Duchess Sophie stuns in racy skirt and edgy boots on royal engagement

03 October 2023 , 14:13

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Sophie on a visit to the Brooklands Museum in Surrey today

Despite being one of the hardest-working royals, her engagements sometimes go under the radar. But the Duchess of Edinburgh certainly caught the eye today after wowing in a daring leather Nina Ricci skirt complete with a matching edgy leather Prada jacket and stylish boots from Reiss. Sophie wore the unexpected ensemble on a visit to the Brooklands Museum in Surrey, where she met with young scientists, engineers and mathematicians.

The mum-of-two is known for her fashion-forward choices and has worn several leather pieces on previous engagements - and even once donned a chic jumpsuit to Royal Ascot rather than a traditional dress several years ago.

Sophie wore a daring leather skirt for the outing (Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)

Sophie teamed the skirt with a matching leather jacket and brown boots (Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)

During her visit to the museum today, Sophie met with students between the ages of 11 to 18 taking part in the Brooklands Innovation Academy event. The event, in its second year, connects youngsters with leading businesses in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths.

However, at one point, she had to wear a lab coat, which covered up her stylish outfit, which also included a black clutch bag and matching gold jewellery. She kept her make-up simple and wore her hair in a signature bun. Sophie's outing comes after royal correspondent Jennie Bond said she and husband Prince Edward have been providing support to the Prince and Princess of Wales amid a turbulent year for the royals.

The deep feud between the Waleses and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shows no signs of being healed and comes after a dramatic year for the Royal Family, which saw the death of the late Queen and the accession of King Charles.

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Sophie shares a joke as she has a go at hammering in a workshop (Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)

Sharing the growing friendship between William and Kate and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Jennie told OK! magazine: "Sometimes it seems strange to realise that these are two different generations of royals as they seem much closer. But, especially after all that has happened - not only with the queen’s death but with Harry and Meghan leaving and Andrew getting 'sacked' - the two couples have formed a tight bond.

"I think William and Catherine feel they can confide in Edward and Sophie and there are so few people a royal can entrust with their thoughts and feelings. Both Sophie and Catherine have a common touch…perhaps because they lived 'normal' lives before marrying. They connect with the people they meet and look as if they really want to chat. They are the new female stars of the show - elegant, engaging and empathetic.

At one point, Sophie had to cover up her outfit by wearing a lab coat (Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)

"Sophie, in particular, is a wonderfully empathetic woman. The late Queen regarded her as another daughter, and - apart from one unfortunate scam when she was tricked by a News of the World reporter - Sophie has never put a foot wrong. And, because the age gap is not very great, she is a brilliant bridge between the generations."

Sophie is often touted as King Charles' secret weapon within the Firm, championing important causes and carrying out a wide range of engagements. And last week, she was given the task of representing the monarch at the state funeral of former Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. The duchess embarked on a solo trip to Rome to attend the ceremony for the former president, who died earlier this month aged 98, alongside French president Emmanuel Macron and other heads of state.

Jennifer Newton