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Duchess Sophie has embarked on a surprise trip to Zambia; Buckingham Palace shared a detailed itinerary of her weeklong tour.
On Monday, September 14th, the Duchess of Edinburgh quietly arrived in Zambia to begin a six-day official visit aimed at strengthening the ties between the two states.
Her Royal Highness looked stunning in a bright green midi dress coordinated with the purple sash; the striking combination also reflected the primary green of the Zambian flag.
Sophie's visit also aims to celebrate the relationship between Zambia and the United Kingdom, on behalf of the entire British Royal Family.
Notably, the tour to the Southern African country comes at the request of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
While in Zambia, Sophie will carry out several engagements in Lusaka, Lower Zambezi and Livingstone, which are linked to gender equality, climate and nature, and education and research partnerships, subjects the duchess is deeply passionate about.
Duchess Sophie's role in International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and Orbis
On her first day of the Zambian trip, Prince Edward's life partner was welcomed with the special reception hosted by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and Orbis.
The glitzy event was held before the first-ever Global Summit for Eye Health, scheduled to take place in Antigua in November, which aims to end avoidable sight loss by 2030.
Duchess Sophie has made a royal appearance, fulfilling her global ambassador responsibilities for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.
The 61-year-old senior member of the Royal Family has a longstanding commitment to the cause of eliminating avoidable blindness and has witnessed the work of Orbis firsthand during previous visits to Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and India.
A heartfelt nod to Lady Louis Windsor during Zambian trip
It is pertinent to note that the event is also close to Sophie's heart due to her daughter, Lady Louis Windsor, who was born with esotropia, a condition affecting eye alignment, and has spoken openly about the experience of navigating that diagnosis as a parent.
For those unaware, Esotropia affects eye alignment and muscle coordination, and it is often linked to premature births where eye development is not fully finalised.
Lady Louise underwent a corrective procedure at 18 months old, which was initially unsuccessful, followed by a second successful surgery in 2014 when she was ten years old.
The heartfelt gesture shows Duchess Sophie has not forgotten her family, even as a dedicated member of the Royal Family.
When will Duchess Sophie's Zambian trip conclude?
Buckingham Palace revealed the new state visit of Her Royal Highness; the visit began on Monday, September 14th and is set to conclude on Saturday, September 19th.
