Duchess of Edinburgh Begins Official Visit to Zambia

The Duchess of Edinburgh has begun an official visit to Zambia, focusing on strengthening ties between the United Kingdom and the African nation while highlighting her charitable work in eye health and women's empowerment. The visit, which sources indicate is scheduled to last several days, opened with a reception for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and Orbis International in Lusaka. For the event, the Duchess wore a lime-green silk midi dress by ARossGirl x Soler, a piece she first debuted in 2019. She paired the dress with a deep purple sash, a combination noted by observers as a potential diplomatic nod to the colors of the Zambian flag. Her accessories included gold jewelry, some of which she reportedly purchased during a previous trip to Kenya, and her signature Penelope Chilvers espadrille wedges. According to reports, the Duchess's first engagement was conducted in what she described as her "aeroplane clothes" due to a delay with her luggage. Despite this, she proceeded with her schedule, which on the second day included meeting with President Hakainde Hichilema and First Lady Mutinta Hichilema at Community House in Lusaka.