Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh Spends Busy Second Day in Lusaka on Zambia Tour

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh packed business meetings, art and gem-polishing into Tuesday in Lusaka on day two of her six-day tour of Zambia.

The visit runs through Friday, Sept. 19, with stops planned in Lusaka, Lower Zambezi and Livingstone, according to Hello!.

The duchess left London on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 13, flying from Heathrow Airport for Zambia. The trip was recorded in the Court Circular, the palace's daily record of official engagements. That entry was issued from St James's Palace, as listed by Royal.uk.

She began the official program on Monday, Sept. 14. For that first day she wore a bright green dress with a purple sash. Tuesday, Sept. 15, brought a full day of engagements in the capital.

In Lusaka on Tuesday, the duchess met with local Zambian women entrepreneurs. They talked about leadership and opportunities for women in business. It was a working conversation, not a ceremony.

She also visited Imvelo Studios, a contemporary art studio. There she met artists and survivors of gender-based violence. The studio visit put art and recovery in the same room.

At Jewel of Africa, the focus shifted to craft and trade. The company is a family-owned business founded in 1992. It specializes in ethically sourced gemstones, buying directly from Zambian mines.

The duchess tried the work herself. She helped shape and polish a piece of quartz gemstone. It was hands-on. Photos showed her leaning in at the workbench.

For Tuesday she wore a colorful wrap dress by Soler London. She paired it with Penelope Chilvers espadrilles and a gold bracelet from Asprey London. The details were reported by Town & Country.

What makes this stop stand out is the mix. One day moved from boardroom questions to art to a jeweler's polishing wheel. For readers following from the United States, it is a reminder of how these tours work. The palace sends a senior royal. The host country sets a program built around its own businesses and community groups.

More is still to come. Later in the tour, the duchess is scheduled to meet Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema at Community House in Lusaka. The program then continues beyond the capital toward Lower Zambezi and Livingstone before wrapping Friday.