The Duchess of Edinburgh (formerly Countess of Wessex and Forfar) nailed the art of elevated dressing this week when she attended a glamorous event in London for the Chartered Management Institute Women's Annual Conference.
The wife of Prince Edward, 58, looked fabulous in a fit-and-flare striped dress from Victoria Beckham's eponymous fashion label. Duchess Sophie layered her candy cane print dress with a runway-worthy Prada jacket -
Sophie's vintage Prada jacket featured a collarless cut, structured shoulders elevated with leather epaulettes and a svelte tailored fit that highlighted her feminine silhouette.
In photographs shared on Twitter, the Duchess looked radiant wearing her signature blonde hair in a sleek straightened style, complementing her surprisingly vampy leather look.
Taking to Instagram to comment on the royal's biker-chic aesthetic, fans hailed the Duchess of Edinburgh's edgy unrivalled style.
© Getty"I'd love to see the dress on her! This outfit looks super youthful yet classic, especially paired with a leather jacket," penned one fan, as another wrote: "I love this look on Sophie. The collarless leather jacket is very flattering. I also think the dress flare at the bottom would give the outfit a great silhouette. The stripes are great."
© Getty"This is a fabulous look. The jacket can be worn in so many ways. And the dress is very striking!" chimed in a third fan.
© GettyIt's not the first time we've seen the Duchess channelling a biker babe look.
Sophie's Prada number has been in her wardrobe for a number of years, with the royal having worn it back in 2017 to visit the British Women's Hockey team in Marlow, Buckinghamshire and again at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
© GettyIf we had a timeless Prada lambskin jacket in our archive, we'd recycle it too!
Perfect for layering over spring dresses, elevating an evening look, or even for levelling up your winter wardrobe, there's no style weapon more versatile than a royal-approved leather. Shop our edit of favourites below.
Royal-approved leather jackets
AllSaints Leather Jacket
AllSaints Dalby Slim Fit Leather Biker Jacket
Sizes available: UK 2-16
Colours available: Black
Shipping: Free Standard Delivery
Returns: Free within 28 days
AllSaints is synonymous with leather jackets and the biker styles are iconic for good reason. Perfectly crafted in soft leather, if you only have one, make it the Dalby. Fully lined, it features the brand's signature metal trims and two zipped pockets.
Reiss Leather Jacket
Reiss Tallis Leather Biker Jacket
Sizes available: UK 4-18
Colours available: Black
Shipping: £5.95 Next Day Delivery
Returns: £1.95 within 28 days
Crafted from premium leather, the Tallis jacket from Reiss has a classic racer design with chic quilting and cool asymmetric zip detail.
Mango Leather Jacket
Mango Leather Biker Jacket
Sizes available: XXS-4XL
Colours available: Black
Shipping: £3.95 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £30
Returns: Free within 30 days
Leather jackets don't come much more affordable than this one from Mango. Made from 100% Nappa leather, it has a slim fit design and comes in an inclusive range of sizes, from XXS to 4XL.
& Other Stories Leather Jacket
& Other Stories Topstitched Leather Jacket
Sizes available: XS-L
Colours available: Black
Shipping: £4 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £80
Returns: Free within 30 days
For a unique take on the leather biker jacket, & Other Stories has this boxy zip-up style with an all over faded finish. It features a stand-up collar, padded shoulders and duo chest zip-pockets.
COS Leather Jacket
COS Oversized Cropped Leather Jacket
Sizes available: XXS-L
Colours available: Black
Shipping: £4 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £100
Returns: Free within 28 days
With its cropped cut, this COS jacket is perfect for your spring wardrobe refresh. It features a cool exaggerated collar, angled pockets, a wide belt and shiny silver-tone hardware.
Karen Millen Leather Jacket
Karen Millen Signature Leather Jacket
Sizes available: UK 6-16
Colours available: Black, Blush, Dark Tan, Black/White
Shipping: £4.99 Standard Delivery or free with Karen Millen Premier
Returns: £2 within 28 days or free with Karen Millen Premier
Cropped at the waist with a lightly tailored silhouette, Karen Millen's signature leather jacket is feminine and so flattering. It comes with silver-tone zips.
M&S Leather Biker Jacket
M&S Leather Jacket
Sizes available: UK 6-24
Colours available: Black
Shipping: £3.99 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £60
Returns: Free within 35 days
Marks & Spencer's classic leather biker jacket features quilting on the inside, an asymmetric zip fastening and multiple pockets.
Anine Bing Leather Jacket
Anine Bing Benjamin Leather Jacket
Sizes available: XS-M
Colours available: Black
Shipping: £5.95 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £100
Returns: Free within 14 days
From the relaxed fit to the removable waistbelt and leather that gets more supple with each wear, Anine Bing's Benjamin biker jacket is at the very top of my wish lists.
Arket Leather Jacket
Arket Racer Leather Jacket
Sizes available: EUR 34-44
Colours available: Black
Shipping: £5 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £125
Returns: Free within 30 days
Arket's racer-inspired leather biker jacket has a boxy cut, with a stand collar and zip details at the sleeves. I love it styled with wide-leg jeans.
Zara Leather Jacket
Zara Soft Leather Jacket
Sizes available: XS-L
Colours available: Black
Shipping: £3.95 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £50
Returns: £1.95 within 30 days
If you're looking for something a little more unique, head to Zara. Made from the softest leather, this jacket features subtle vintage-inspired details such as raglan sleeves and a shirt collar with wide lapels.
The Duchess of Edinburgh in Cornwall
Sophie's engagement at the Chartered Management Institute Women's Annual Conference at IET London was swiftly followed by a trip to Cornwall, where the mother-of-two sampled a series of alcoholic tipples at Colwith Farm Distillery near Crewell Moorin.
Duchess Sophie looked immaculate in a double-breasted blazer from Altuzarra, slipping into the boldest chequered trousers we've ever seen on a royal. Sophie was armed with a stunning cream 'Crescent Shoulder Bag' from Strathberry, epitomising spring with her playful, pastel ensemble.
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