Soon after joining the royal family in 1999, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, underwent a stunning transformation into one of the monarchy’s brightest stars. She has now been a full-time working royal for more than two decades, and she’s incredibly well-rounded. In addition to racking up hundreds of royal engagements each year, she’s also involved with more than 70 charities around the world. However, it’s not just Sophie’s public image that has evolved over time — her style has also changed drastically since her early days in the spotlight.

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Speaking with “Good Morning America,” author Elizabeth Holmes explained that the women of the royal family use fashion as a means to express themselves and connect with the public. “These women don’t give big, revealing interviews by and large. They don’t give big speeches,” Holmes detailed. “What they do is they step out in public, and what we see first is what they’re wearing.” Sophie is no exception to this phenomenon, and her ever-changing style proves that she understands the importance of her sartorial choices.

Although fans weren’t surprised to see Sophie earn a spot on Vanity Fair’s Best Dressed List in 2015, the royal admitted that she was taken aback by it. “I kept on reading the names, thinking, are they sure they’re not thinking of someone else?” she told the Telegraph. Despite being a modern-day fashion icon, Sophie didn’t cultivate her style overnight. That said, let’s travel back in time and revisit her stunning fashion journey.

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Long before she entered the spotlight, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, was known simply by her maiden name, Sophie Rhys-Jones. An ambitious businesswoman, Sophie spent her early adulthood launching a successful public relations career. However, her life underwent a dramatic change in 1993 when she started dating Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II. Within a few months, the couple went public with their relationship and Sophie became an instant celebrity.

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During their six-year courtship, Sophie continued working at her PR firm while adjusting to life as a public figure. Although she was closely associated with the royal family, she kept her distance from the pomp and pageantry of royal life. Unlike her future in-laws, Sophie maintained a low-key style. She steered away from lavish jewelry and high-end garb, instead opting for a simpler corporate-chic style. During this era, Sophie’s wardrobe was packed with business-casual essentials like power suits, pencil skirts, and basic high heels.

Speaking with Express, royal stylist Holly Jade O’Leary noted that Sophie’s early style was heavily influenced by her career aspirations: “Sophie’s style has evolved since 1993, where Sophie wore boxy blazers with large shoulder pads, and hid her figure with dominant corporate colours of the era: red, black, white.”

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A year into her courtship with Prince Edward, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, had a style breakthrough when she attended the royal wedding of Lady Sarah Chatto, the daughter of Princess Margaret. For this occasion, Sophie ditched her typical corporate-chic style and adopted a more royal vibe.

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Sophie strolled into the ceremony wearing a baby blue skirt suit and ivory pumps. She elevated the look with pearl earrings and a sparkly gold brooch. The highlight of Sophie’s outfit was her headwear: a white top hat featuring tulle embellishments and a large bow. Not only did Sophie’s ensemble align with the strict dress code for royal wedding guests, but it also proved that she knew how to style herself like a royal. In this instance, Sophie may have been inspired by Queen Elizabeth II, who had an iconic affinity for stylish hats. Sophie’s embellished top hat looked like it could’ve been plucked right out of the queen’s millinery collection.

Despite pulling off this regal wedding look, though, Sophie’s outfit wasn’t quite on par with that of a seasoned royal. For one thing, Sophie’s blazer was oversized, demonstrating that the garment wasn’t tailored to fit her (by contrast, the royals are frequently seen wearing tailored clothes). Although she embraced some royal style elements, Sophie stayed well within her comfort zone by sticking to her favorite style: a skirt suit.

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By 1995, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, seemed to be hitting her stride as a public figure. Not only did she appear more confident during public outings, but she also seemed comfortable enough to showcase more of her personal style. In July 1995, Sophie attended the Ascot Charity Race wearing her boldest look yet.

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For this occasion, Sophie rocked a tiny sundress with a vibrant floral print. The dress also featured shoulder straps and a V-shaped cutout that revealed a hint of cleavage. She styled the garment with a black cropped jacket. While Sophie looked like a total “it” girl in this outfit, onlookers were undoubtedly shocked to see the girlfriend of a royal bearing so much skin. After all, it’s no secret that the royal family follows a strict dress code. By royal standards, Sophie’s thigh-revealing hem and plunging neckline would be considered incredibly taboo. However, given that Sophie was not married to Edward and therefore not technically a royal, it’s possible that her slinky ensemble flew under the royal radar.

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Nevertheless, Sophie’s outfit spoke volumes. For one thing, it exemplified her growing confidence as a public figure. By choosing not to follow royal protocol, Sophie also asserted her independence and control over her public image.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, married Prince Edward in June 1999 during an elegant ceremony at Windsor Castle. For her big day, the bride kept things classic by adhering to royal wedding traditions. She followed protocol by selecting a British dressmaker — in this case, Samantha Keswick — to create her custom wedding look.

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Sophie sailed down the aisle in a silk organza gown complete with a plunging neckline. On top of the gown, she added an ivory dress coat with flared sleeves and an ethereal train. For her accessories, the royal chose drop earrings and a magnificent pearl cross necklace. Speaking with Tatler in 2020, Keswick revealed that Sophie’s wedding gown took around four months to create. In addition to having more than 300,000 pearl and crystal embellishments, the dress was a highly specific shade of white. Keswick recalled, “There was an evening dress under the coat dress, which was to remain super private for the evening dinner, and I had to get the fabric perfectly dyed to colour-match the beautiful stone of St George’s Chapel. Getting up there without being noticed was fun — and also a huge challenge.” 

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Sophie also leaned into royal tradition by sporting a tiara on her wedding day. She chose the Anthemion tiara, a lavish headpiece that features a trio of diamond-encrusted anthemion columns.

After tying the knot in 1999, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and her husband Prince Edward were eager to grow their family. Unfortunately, the couple endured numerous setbacks along the way, including a devastating ectopic pregnancy that occurred in 2001. However, in 2003, the pair finally achieved their dream of having a child. The royal family announced Sophie’s pregnancy in May of that year, noting, “The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh and members of both families are delighted with the news.” Shortly after her pregnancy reveal, Sophie sported a new look that perfectly complimented her mommy-to-be status.

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In May 2003, a glowing Sophie attended the royal Windsor Horse Show. For this outing, the royal wore suede bell bottoms and a checkered linen shirt. To finish the look, she added a coffee-colored leather jacket. Sophie’s maternity style marked the end of her corporate-chic era. Gone were the days of pencil skirts and bulky blazers. Now, her wardrobe emphasized comfort and practicality — the perfect elements for an on-the-go mom. Sophie’s new style proved that she was looking towards the future and focusing on her growing family. Her daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, was born in November 2003. Four years later, Sophie and Edward welcomed their son James, Earl of Wessex.

As a member of the royal family, it goes without saying that Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, lives a lavish life. Not only are her in-laws worth billions, but they also have access to the world’s most elite tailors and clothing designers. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Sophie’s style changed significantly after joining the royal family.

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In May 2004, Sophie embraced her affluence when she attended the royal wedding of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark. On this occasion, Sophie donned a bright pink ball gown with off-the-shoulder straps and a ruched bodice. For extra glam, she added a sheer shawl and burgundy pumps. The royal went all out with her jewelry, sporting a diamond tiara, a white gold necklace, and a pair of diamond brooches. According to fashion designer Holly Jade O’Leary, these plush accessories represent a tiny fraction of Sophie’s jewelry collection. O’Leary told Express, “A great lover of statement jewelry, aquamarine, blue topaz, her interesting jewelry collection features contemporary designers such as Monica Vinader alongside watches by Rolex and Cartier.”

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Sophie’s wedding guest attire marked a luxurious new chapter in her style evolution. Five years after joining the royal family, she looked incredibly confident — not to mention extremely opulent — in this head-to-toe princess look.

When it comes to her style transformation, the Duchess of Edinburgh hasn’t always traversed a linear path. In fact, Sophie has suffered plenty of fashion mishaps, including wearing some utterly inappropriate outfits as well as outdated outfits.

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However, as noted by stylist Stephanie Hirschmiller, Sophie had a major glow-up during the 2010s. “[Sophie] used to dress like the archetypal Sloane Ranger at a wedding circa 1985,” Hirschmiller told the Daily Mail in 2015. “Typical, in fact, of someone who found their style in their twenties and has never deviated since. However, in the last year she’s undergone a make-over of the best kind and has not only come out looking way more sophisticated, but 10 years younger too.” During this era, Sophie hopped on the maximalist trend, packing her wardrobe with rhinestones, feathers, beads, and more.

One of Sophie’s best embellished looks came in 2013 when the duchess attended a Gala at Buckingham Palace. Sophie sashayed into the event wearing a white Bruce Oldfield dress with short sleeves and a layered skirt. The pièce de résistance was the dress’s neckline, which featured a fluffy halo of ostrich feathers. Sophie’s feathered frock moment proved to be a turning point in her style evolution: not only did it highlight her ever-growing self-confidence, but it also showed that she wasn’t afraid to take risks with her style. 

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While chatting with Express in 2015, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, shared some stunning revelations about her fashion journey. “I know what I like and what I don’t like,” she told the publication, “but I have never had a stylist.” As a young royal, Sophie shied away from high fashion because she didn’t like being the center of attention. However, after a few years, she realized that fashion was an inescapable part of royal life. “It’s still not about me, it’s about my charities but I recognise that I’m on display,” the duchess explained. She added, “When you walk into a room, yes people are going to talk about what you’re doing there, but they’re also going to want to know what you’re wearing.”

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In light of her conversation with Express, Sophie clearly knows how to generate a buzz with her fashion choices — and that’s exactly what she did in 2016 during an appearance at the Everyday Heroes Awards. For this occasion, the royal wore a show-stopping cocktail dress by Stella McCartney. The garment featured all-over black lace with a stunning one shoulder design. She styled the look with jet-black pumps and a dainty handbag. Sophie’s LBD moment was a stark contrast to her usual attire, which tends to be on the more modest side. Whatever her reason for doing so, she looked like a total bombshell.

In the late 2010s, the Duchess of Edinburgh bowed out of her maximalist fashion era and adopted a new signature style: monochrome dresses. One of Sophie’s best monochrome moments came in 2016 when she attended the Royal Ascot. On this occasion, Sophie slipped into a turquoise dress with full sleeves and an A-line hem. She finished the look by adding a jumbo fascinator with an upturned rim in the same shade as her dress.

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In the following years, Sophie wore numerous monochrome looks, donning pinks, greens, and every hue in between. Sophie’s penchant for bold colors was certainly inspiring, but she wasn’t the first royal to wear them. In fact, her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, famously wore bright monochrome outfits to make herself more visible in a crowd.

During the 2010s, Prince Edward and Sophie were known as the Count and Countess of Wessex. However, it was widely speculated that they would one day be given the more esteemed titles of Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Speaking with Express in 2019, fashion expert Gareth O’Rourke noted that this anticipated shift in the monarchy could have spurred Sophie’s wardrobe change. “Her bold outfits could suggest her newly added responsibility within the Royal Family and the importance of her appealing to a wider audience now that she is in line to become the Duchess of Edinburgh,” O’Rourke stated. In March 2023, King Charles III awarded Edward and Sophie the aforementioned titles. 

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As many can attest, the early 2020s were a tumultuous time for humanity. When the coronavirus pandemic emerged, countless lives were upended and the world began to establish a “new normal,” which consisted of virtual gatherings, remote work, and long bouts of sheltering in place. These conditions shaped nearly every aspect of life, including fashion. 2020 saw the rise of cozy trends like loungewear, sweats, track pants, and cycling shorts. People wanted to feel comfy while quarantining, but they also wanted to look good while doing so. Ultimately, the pandemic triggered a shift towards comfortable dressing that lasted for years.

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During this time frame, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, was also in her cozy era. While the past decade of Sophie’s life had been chock full of glamorous fashion moments, the 2020s started off on a more casual note. In December 2021, Sophie showed off her laid-back style during a visit to Woking, England. For this occasion, she paired black slacks with a brown turtleneck. Sophie completed the look with a plaid sherpa-lined coat. She also sported a low-maintenance hairstyle: a simple ponytail. For the next few years, pants dominated Sophie’s wardrobe. In addition to her trusty slacks, she also showed an appreciation for styles like skinny jeans and flowy trousers. 

By the mid-2020s, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, was on the cusp of turning 60, and she welcomed the milestone by changing up her style. During this era, the royal embraced a litany of chic prints that launched her to the top of her fashion game. In October 2024, the duchess debuted one of her best patterned looks during the 5 Rifles homecoming parade in Bulford, England. For this event, Sophie opted for a pink A-line dress by Erdem. The garment was covered with intricate embroidery featuring green leaves and pops of blue flowers. For extra glam, the royal added drop earrings and a pink topaz necklace.

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Speaking with People in 2025, hat designer Alice Leet-Cook noted that Sophie has truly found her way when it comes to fashion. Not only is Sophie’s style transformation a royal success story, but it’s also a testament to her life experiences. “She’s a working royal but also a mum, and you just get the feeling that she’s built a wardrobe that has lots of really good pieces that are wearable and she does wear things and again and again,” Leet-Cook shared. “Even at Royal Windsor, there’s something about her, you just can’t help but turn to look. There’s an ease in the way she dresses. It appears effortless.”