While she was in Italy, the Duchess carried bags by Sophie Habsburg (also known as Her Royal and Imperial Highness Sophie Habsburg, Archduchess of Austria) – an aristocrat whose designs are so loved by the Duchess of Edinburgh that she owns more than 70 styles. It felt apt that she debuted yet another new style from the label, which is based in Rome, for Sunday’s ceremony; her £297 ‘Noe’ bag is now sold out. Habsburg, who is a distant relative of the Edinburghs via Prince Philip, first met Sophie at a wedding and told Tatler last year that ‘she’s very cool’.
It’s not just in Italy that the Duchess has been flexing her diplomatic dressing prowess. The day before her Monte Cassino visit began, she was in Edinburgh with her husband for the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. For this formal engagement, the Duchess debuted another new look by Suzannah – the ‘Remy’ cloqué jacket and skirt in forest green. ‘The cropped jacket sits just on the waist of the 50s-style skirt creating a stunning fit and flare silhouette which has presence and modern yet timeless proportions,’ explains Crabbs of the ensemble’s elegant aesthetic.