WHENEVER Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, steps out in public she looks radiant.
The graceful royal certainly looks age-defying as she approaches her upcoming milestone 60th birthday in January – but what are her beauty secrets?
We recently saw supportive Sophie place a protective hand on Princess Kate’s back during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph last month.
Experts say the Princess of Wales has found a “tower of strength” in the Duchess of Edinburgh, who has supported her throughout her cancer diagnosis.
But it’s not just the royal mum-of-two’s dependable nature, which helps her stand out from the crowd.
The wife of Prince Edward, 60, is passionate about leading a healthy lifestyle, and has a few beauty secrets up her sleeve…
Sophie’s flawless complexion is aided by one brand, which is reportedly one of her favourites.
During a public engagement to the charity PACT, Parents and Children Together, the Duchess of Edinburgh was asked by a curious child to share what was in her handbag.
According to the Daily Mail, Sophie then proceeded to reveal she carried a number of Trish McEvoy products.
The Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Anti-Fatigue Cream SPF30 is said to be one of her top picks, and protects skin against sun damage.
Not only that, but it minimises fine lines and reduces the signs of fatigue, added by the brand claiming it “boosts the production of collagen.”
It is also multi-purpose and combines moisturiser, primer, and sunscreen.
However, despite being hailed as “magical” by shoppers, it doesn’t come cheap.
You can currently pick it up at Amazon and Selfridges for £70 a tube.
It has an average rating of 4.7 on Amazon, with one fan saying: “I’m not sure what they put into this, but it makes my skin look and feel fantastic.”
In order to stay healthy, Sophie is a passionate jogger and equestrian.
However, her amazing skin could be down to her balanced diet of lean protein, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Lily Simpson, a nutritional expert and founder of The Detox Kitchen, previously told MailOnline: “Sophie Wessex looks fabulous thanks to her beautiful glowing skin.
“A diet of plant-based foods and lean protein has a huge impact on the appearance of skin, as does keeping well hydrated and getting proper sleep.”
She also loves a smoothie, similar to Princess Kate, who is said to enjoy a spirulina (algae) version.
Sophie is also known to love a barbecue with Prince Edward and their two children, Lady Louise Windsor, James, Viscount Severn, at their Bagshot home.
It’s thought that the royal loves to add lean fish and veggies to the grill, instead of lots of processed meats.
When Sophie met Edward in 1987 she was a PR for Capital Radio, but it was six years before they started dating.
They then began a romance in earnest, but went to great lengths to avoid photographers, especially when Sophie began staying overnight at Edward’s three-room apartment in Buckingham Palace. When calling Sophie at her office, the Prince would use the name Richard — not that he fooled her colleagues for long.
Six years after they started going out, Edward proposed, with a £105,000 ring from Crown jewellers Garrard.
Starting a family was not straightforward. In 2001 Sophie suffered an ectopic pregnancy.
In 2003, the birth of daughter Louise was similarly dramatic. The baby was a month premature and Sophie lost nine pints of blood, had a caesarean and was in hospital for 15 days. In 2007 she had another caesarean giving birth to son James.
Last summer, during the break before the second lockdown, Edward, Sophie and their children, now 17 and 13, were among the first to stay with the Queen and Philip at Balmoral, and the last to leave.
Beauty experts have also weighed in on Sophie’s youthful appearance.
Tracey Ryan, skincare scientific advisor at Skin Trust Club, said: “Sophie Wessex is known for looking much younger than her age.
“She embraces her natural glow and freckles and maintains a low-key skin routine on a daily basis.”
The beauty pro said Sophie may “exfoliate regularly to keep her skin clean and glowing”.
It has been recommended by Healthline that exfoliating can be beneficial two to three times a week, but only if your skin can handle it, as some exfoliants can be too aggressive.
Aside from beauty hacks, Sophie has a make-up trick which helps her to look fresh-faced.
The Duchess opts for glowy bases and pink lipsticks to enhance her features subtly for both day and evening events.
In order to accentuate her blue eyes, Sophie is said to select bold eyeliner on the upper lash with a slightly winged look for an elegant finish.
