• Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh wearing a Victoria Beckham dress at a charity lunch in London, March 2017. Getty Images
    Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh wearing a Victoria Beckham dress at a charity lunch in London, March 2017. Getty Images
  • The duchess, in a lace dress and cream coat, and King Charles attend the wedding of Crown Prince Willem Alexander and Maxima Zorreguieta in February 2002 in Amsterdam. Getty Images
    The duchess, in a lace dress and cream coat, and King Charles attend the wedding of Crown Prince Willem Alexander and Maxima Zorreguieta in February 2002 in Amsterdam. Getty Images
  • The duchess in red satin and Prince Edward arrive for a reception hosted by the Norwegian government in Trondheim, Norway, in May 2002. Getty Images
    The duchess in red satin and Prince Edward arrive for a reception hosted by the Norwegian government in Trondheim, Norway, in May 2002. Getty Images
  • The Duchess of Edinburgh in a two-tone strapless gown, and Prince Edward arrive for the wedding of Princess Martha Louise of Norway and Ari Behn at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, in May 2002. Getty Images
    The Duchess of Edinburgh in a two-tone strapless gown, and Prince Edward arrive for the wedding of Princess Martha Louise of Norway and Ari Behn at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, in May 2002. Getty Images
  • Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in brown suede, attend the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May 2003 at Windsor Castle, England. Getty Images
    Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in brown suede, attend the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May 2003 at Windsor Castle, England. Getty Images
  • Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in a formal black coat, attend the National Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving for members of the armed forces killed in the Iraq war in London, October 2003. Getty Images
    Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in a formal black coat, attend the National Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving for members of the armed forces killed in the Iraq war in London, October 2003. Getty Images
  • Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in taupe separates, leave Frimley Park Hospital in November 2003 in Surrey, England. Getty Images
    Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in taupe separates, leave Frimley Park Hospital in November 2003 in Surrey, England. Getty Images
  • Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in pink satin, attend the wedding of Crown Prince Frederik and Mary Elizabeth Donaldson at Copenhagen Cathedral in May 2004 in Copenhagen. Getty Images
    Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in pink satin, attend the wedding of Crown Prince Frederik and Mary Elizabeth Donaldson at Copenhagen Cathedral in May 2004 in Copenhagen. Getty Images
  • The duchess, in a baby blue two-piece, visits Collingwood College on her 40th birthday in January 2005 in Surrey, England. Getty Images
    The duchess, in a baby blue two-piece, visits Collingwood College on her 40th birthday in January 2005 in Surrey, England. Getty Images
  • Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in a feather-trimmed hat, and Prince Edward take part in Monaco's National Day celebrations at Monaco Cathedral in November 2005. Getty Images
    Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in a feather-trimmed hat, and Prince Edward take part in Monaco's National Day celebrations at Monaco Cathedral in November 2005. Getty Images
  • The duchess, in an LBD, arrives at the ChildLine & Mission Enfance Royal gala dinner at Banqueting House in March 2006 in London. Getty Images
    The duchess, in an LBD, arrives at the ChildLine & Mission Enfance Royal gala dinner at Banqueting House in March 2006 in London. Getty Images
  • Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in a checked coat, arrive at a Service of Thanksgiving held to mark the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II in St Paul's Cathedral in London, June 2006. Getty Images
    Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in a checked coat, arrive at a Service of Thanksgiving held to mark the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II in St Paul's Cathedral in London, June 2006. Getty Images
  • Sophie, in a caped grey dress, arrives at the unveiling of a new statue of the Queen Mother on the Mall in February 2009 in London. Getty Images
    Sophie, in a caped grey dress, arrives at the unveiling of a new statue of the Queen Mother on the Mall in February 2009 in London. Getty Images
  • Prince Edward and the duchess, in lace-trimmed navy, attend a pre-wedding dinner for Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling at Eric Ericson Hall in June 2010, Stockholm. Getty Images
    Prince Edward and the duchess, in lace-trimmed navy, attend a pre-wedding dinner for Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling at Eric Ericson Hall in June 2010, Stockholm. Getty Images
  • Prince Edward and Sophie, in a taupe chiffon gown, attend the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling on June 19, 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden. Getty Images
    Prince Edward and Sophie, in a taupe chiffon gown, attend the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling on June 19, 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden. Getty Images
  • The Duchess of Edinburgh, in a strappy red dress, and Prince Edward attend a gala dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in April 2011, London. Getty Images
    The Duchess of Edinburgh, in a strappy red dress, and Prince Edward attend a gala dinner held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in April 2011, London. Getty Images
  • Sophie, in a metallic dress coat, leaves Westminster Abbey after attending the annual Commonwealth Day Observance Service in March 2012, London. Getty Images
    Sophie, in a metallic dress coat, leaves Westminster Abbey after attending the annual Commonwealth Day Observance Service in March 2012, London. Getty Images
  • Sophie, in navy tailoring, and Lady Louise Windsor leave a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral in June 2012, London. Getty Images
    Sophie, in navy tailoring, and Lady Louise Windsor leave a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral in June 2012, London. Getty Images
  • The duchess, in a cream coat, attends the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in March 2014, London. Getty Images
    The duchess, in a cream coat, attends the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in March 2014, London. Getty Images
  • The duchess, in a purple coat, attends the dedication ceremony of a new memorial at The National Memorial Arboretum in October 2014 in Stafford, England. Getty Images
    The duchess, in a purple coat, attends the dedication ceremony of a new memorial at The National Memorial Arboretum in October 2014 in Stafford, England. Getty Images
  • Queen Consort Camilla and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in Suzannah, attend the Order of the Garter Service at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in June 2015. Getty Images
    Queen Consort Camilla and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in Suzannah, attend the Order of the Garter Service at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in June 2015. Getty Images
  • Prince Edward and the duchess, in lavender chiffon, attend a gala marking the 60th anniversary of The Duke of Edinburgh Award at Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire, England, June 2016. Getty Images
    Prince Edward and the duchess, in lavender chiffon, attend a gala marking the 60th anniversary of The Duke of Edinburgh Award at Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire, England, June 2016. Getty Images
  • The duchess attends the National Service of Thanksgiving as part of the 90th birthday celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II at The Guildhall in June 2016, London. Getty Images
    The duchess attends the National Service of Thanksgiving as part of the 90th birthday celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II at The Guildhall in June 2016, London. Getty Images
  • The duchess, in Alaia, and Prince Edward attend the dedication service of the Iraq and Afghanistan memorial at Horse Guards Parade in March 2017, London. Getty Images
    The duchess, in Alaia, and Prince Edward attend the dedication service of the Iraq and Afghanistan memorial at Horse Guards Parade in March 2017, London. Getty Images
  • The duchess, in Emilia Wickstead, and Philip May visit Kew Gardens during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April 2018, London. Getty Images
    The duchess, in Emilia Wickstead, and Philip May visit Kew Gardens during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April 2018, London. Getty Images
  • The duchess, in Suzannah, arrives for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel in May 2018, Windsor. Getty Images
    The duchess, in Suzannah, arrives for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel in May 2018, Windsor. Getty Images
  • Prince Edward and the duchess, in Alaia, arrive at a reception to mark the UK-Africa Investment Summit at Buckingham Palace in January 2020. Getty Images
    Prince Edward and the duchess, in Alaia, arrive at a reception to mark the UK-Africa Investment Summit at Buckingham Palace in January 2020. Getty Images
  • The duchess, in a cyan gown, arrives at the biennial Rifles Awards Dinner at the City of London Guildhall in November 2021. Getty Images
    The duchess, in a cyan gown, arrives at the biennial Rifles Awards Dinner at the City of London Guildhall in November 2021. Getty Images
  • The duchess, in a cream coat and matching hat, attends the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in London, along with Prince Edward in March 2023. PA
    The duchess, in a cream coat and matching hat, attends the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in London, along with Prince Edward in March 2023. PA
  • The duchess, in a pink Catherine Walker coat and cream knee-high boots, and Prince Edward depart the Easter Sunday service at St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle in April 2023. EPA
    The duchess, in a pink Catherine Walker coat and cream knee-high boots, and Prince Edward depart the Easter Sunday service at St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle in April 2023. EPA
  • The duchess, in a snake print Emilia Wickstead skirt and satin blouse, at a summit by learning disability charity Mencap at St Bartholomew's Hospital in April 2023. EPA
    The duchess, in a snake print Emilia Wickstead skirt and satin blouse, at a summit by learning disability charity Mencap at St Bartholomew's Hospital in April 2023. EPA
  • The duchess, in a satin blouse and turquoise trousers, during a visit to the Bagshot Women's Institute to celebrate their centenary, Bagshot, Surrey, April 2023. PA
    The duchess, in a satin blouse and turquoise trousers, during a visit to the Bagshot Women's Institute to celebrate their centenary, Bagshot, Surrey, April 2023. PA

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh's style evolution in 32 photos, from PR pro to working royal


Emma Day
  • English
  • Arabic

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh knows how to stylishly dress for the occasion — including during her countless official engagements.

Wife of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh she is rarely seen without a chic coat or statement hat when appearing in public, but has also been known to dress for the event, with camouflage jackets for military events.

Scroll through the gallery above to see more photos of Sophie, Countess of Wessex throughout the years.

The mother of two, 58, joined the royal family in 1999 by marrying Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II's youngest child.

Prince Edward, who previously held the title Earl of Wessex, was given the Duke of Edinburgh title in March, which was previously held by his late father Prince Philip, on his 59th birthday.

The change meant that his wife Sophie, the former Countess of Wessex, is now the Duchess of Edinburgh. The couple's son James, Viscount Severn, 15, has been given his father's previous title of Earl of Wessex.

The duchess, who worked in public relations before becoming a full-time working royal, is just as comfortable in formal eveningwear as she is in relaxed separates.

With a penchant for labels such as Suzannah London, Alaia and Emilia Wickstead, Sophie has also embraced a more vibrant colour palette in recent years, stepping out in bold block colours. For more recent appearances, she has worn pieces by fashion favourites Prada, Loewe and Victoria Beckham.

In Search of Mary Shelley: The Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein
By Fiona Sampson
Profile

How to improve Arabic reading in early years

One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient

The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers

Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades

Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic

First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations

Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades

Improve the appearance of textbooks

Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings

Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught

Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar

Results

2pm: Serve U – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Violent Justice, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)

2.30pm: Al Shafar Investment – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: Desert Wisdom, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ahmed Al Shemaili

3pm: Commercial Bank of Dubai – Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Fawaareq, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson

3.30pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer

4pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Rakeez, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar

4.30pm: Al Redha Insurance Brokers – Handicap (TB) Dh78,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Capla Crusader, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

MATCH INFO

Delhi Daredevils 174-4 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians 163 (19.3 ovs)

Delhi won the match by 11 runs

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Lewis Hamilton in 2018

Australia 2nd; Bahrain 3rd; China 4th; Azerbaijan 1st; Spain 1st; Monaco 3rd; Canada 5th; France 1st; Austria DNF; Britain 2nd; Germany 1st; Hungary 1st; Belgium 2nd; Italy 1st; Singapore 1st; Russia 1st; Japan 1st; United States 3rd; Mexico 4th

If you go

The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at. 
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.   

Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):

1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop

2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia -  £25m: Flop

3). Erik Lamela - Roma -  £25m: Jury still out

4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen -  £25m: Success

5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic -  £21m: Flop

6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar -  £18m: Flop

7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers -  £18m: Flop

8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb -  £17m: Success

9). Paulinho - Corinthians -  £16m: Flop

10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham -  £16m: Success

Glossary of a stock market revolution

Reddit

A discussion website

Redditor

The users of Reddit

Robinhood

A smartphone app for buying and selling shares

Short seller

Selling a stock today in the belief its price will fall in the future

Short squeeze

Traders forced to buy a stock they are shorting 

Naked short

An illegal practice  

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

SQUADS

Bangladesh (from): Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mahmudullah Riyad, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Taijul Islam, Mosaddek Hossain, Nayeem Hasan, Mehedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadat Hossain, Abu Jayed

Afghanistan (from): Rashid Khan (capt), Ihsanullah Janat, Javid Ahmadi, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Ikram Alikhil, Mohammad Nabi, Qais Ahmad, Sayed Ahmad Shirzad, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zahir Khan Pakteen, Afsar Zazai, Shapoor Zadran

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5