Duchess of Edinburgh gets crafty as she visits mental health initiative in London

The Duchess of Edinburgh looked ever-so-stylish in a floral and leather ensemble at a charity appearance this morning.

The 59-year-old had a string of royal engagements today, first visiting the Feel Good Inside and Out Project at Cranford College in Hounslow.

No stranger to outfit repeating, Sophie wore a leather midi dress by designer Loewe that she has worn on more than one occasion.

She was first seen in the frock during a 2022 visit to New York and again later that year for Brainwave South West Centre where she is president for the facility's 40th anniversary.

The Duchess often wears a jumper or shirt under the sleeveless dress and her latest appearance was no exception.

This time, she styled her wardrobe favourite with a silk floral-print blouse from ME + EM.

The Loewe dress wasn't the only thing Sophie recycled from her closet. She wore a pair of brown suede Gianvito Rossi heeled boots that she's been snapped in six times in the past year.

She styled her blonde hair in tousled waves down her shoulders, opted for a pair of Giulia Barela floral gold hooped earrings and carried a snakeskin-style clutch bag.

Sophie smiled as she entered the venue where she was greeted by a line of students and staff.

Inside, she looked delighted as she chatted with staff, enjoyed a cup of tea and partook in activities including cross stitching, bracelet beading and making jars of preserves.

On Monday, the Duchess also attended a 60th Anniversary Reception for the Wellbeing of Women charity of which she is a patron and visited the Fight for Sight Laboratory at University College London Institute of Ophthalmology.

Sophie's busy day follows last weekend's Remembrance Day services, where the royal made a series of appearances to pay her respects.

She stood alongside Kate, Princess of Wales, on the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on Remembrance Sunday for a two-minute silence before watching as King Charles laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in London.

Sophie and Kate, who both married into the British royal family, are said have a close 'sisterly' bond which was evident as the Duchess placed a supportive hand on the Princess's back as they returned inside after the memorial.

The warmth of her palm displayed not just the comfort of a family member, but also a friend and a mother.

The Princess of Wales, 42, has only just started to ease back into high-profile public events after she announced that she is cancer-free, following her treatment which she started earlier this year.

Her diagnosis was challenging for her husband, Prince William, to process, with the future King admitting that he's experienced 'the hardest year in my life'.

Body language expert Judi James said of Prince Edward's wife at the time: 'That simple hand gesture showed Sophie's dual role today. She is always the royal who brings a sense of calm and support to some of the most emotionally-charged royal occasions.

'She and Kate always appear to be close and to share a sense of humour but Sophie's gesture here seems to show her in a more maternal mode, as she places on hand on or near Kate's back as she stepped inside the building.'

Later in the day, Sophie was spotted sharing a heart-warming moment with a group of children.

She attended the Armistice service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on Sunday, where proved her maternal nature once again during a sweet conversation with a group of youngsters.

The wife of Prince Edward , 60, was praised by royal fans for the sweet display in which Sophie knelt down to chat with a group of children.

The clip, which was posted on TikTok by Greatest Hits Radio News, saw the mother-of-two exercising her maternal instinct as she told a group of little ones to wave at her when she departed in a helicopter.

During the video, a woman - thought to be the children's teacher - can be heard telling the children: 'This is the lady that came in the helicopter!'

Kneeling down so she is at eye level with the youngster, Sophie then said: 'I'm about to go back in my helicopter. Will you wave at the helicopter?

'It's going to take off in about five minutes so you might see it go up in the sky! So you're going to do a big wave,' she said to the youngster, gesturing at them waving up towards her.

Enamoured by the motherly royal, the group of children, who appeared to be between the ages of three and five, replied with an animated 'yes!'

The group of youngsters appeared in royal blue anoraks and high-vis vest for the Sunday service, where they chatted to the royal.

After seeing the tender moment, royal fans flocked to comments to praise the duchess.

One wrote: 'Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh is a credit to the Royal family,' while another described her as 'Such a natural down to earth person'.

'Darling lady who connects warmly with children and adults,' a third penned.

Another wrote: 'I think that's the first time I've heard her voice! She sounds a bit like Catherine, Princess of Wales when she speaks. I love this! Thank you for sharing!'