It has been a busy week for Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. Before traveling to the West Midlands for a military memorial event, she made a quick and quiet trip abroad, attending the International Civil Society Action Network’s annual Women, Peace and Security Forum at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands from September 29-30.
The forum, titled “Security Reimagined,” brought together more than 65 women from over 40 conflict-affected countries alongside policymakers and philanthropists. The British Embassy The Hague shared more details of the visit on LinkedIn, noting Sophie met with “women peacebuilders and civil society representatives from around the world, recognising the extraordinary work they do in some of the most challenging environments.” Participants also took part in a wellness walk around The Hague before attending a reception hosted by the British Ambassador’s residence.
In Beulah London at Trooping the Colour in June 2025.
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In Gabriela Hearst at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo in September 2025.
Jane Barlow – PA Images//Getty Images
The Royal Household also shared photographs from the trip on social media. Sophie was seen rewearing two jewel-tone dresses from prior notable appearances. One was an emerald green Beulah London dress she had worn to Trooping the Colour in June 2025. The other was a blue Gabriela Hearst dress patterned with cherry blossoms that she first wore during an official visit to Japan in September 2025.
Sophie serves as the royal family’s representative for the United Nations’ Women, Peace and Security agenda, which emphasizes the importance of women’s meaningful participation in peace processes and raises awareness of the ongoing impact of conflict-related sexual violence worldwide. The ICAN Forum, now in its 11th year, is one of the primary international gatherings focused on that agenda.
Rachel King (she/her) is a news writer at Town & Country. Before joining T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in Forbes, Observer, Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and Cool Hunting, among others. Originally from San Francisco, she lives in New York with her wife, their daughter, and a precocious labradoodle. Follow her on Instagram at @rk.passport.