Duchess Sophie was all smiles as she made a special visit to a supermarket tackling food poverty in south London.
The Duchess of Edinburgh was snapped in Community Shop’s Lambeth store yesterday, Wednesday January 15, to see how it works to tackle the root cause of food insecurity across the country.
Sophie met with staff and members of the supermarket, participated in community activities and helped to serve the store’s “Feast Day” before being presented with her own birthday cake ahead of her 60th birthday on Monday.
The royal looked stunning in a beige coat by Harris Wharf London, which she paired with a burgundy knit top by Whistles and a green pleated midi skirt by Alberta Ferretti.
Jewellery-wise, Sophie wore Giulia Barela’s Poetica small hoop earrings in gold and the same designer’s Africa ring, also in gold.
Community Shop is the social enterprise arm of UK’s surplus redistributor Company Shop Group and operates 13 stores nationwide supporting areas of social inequality in the UK.
It sells surplus products donated by food industry partners at a heavily discounted price, ensuring that products don’t go to waste.
While touring the site on Wednesday, the duchess explored three interconnected spaces – the Community Store, the Community Hub and the Community Kitchen.
The store area provides members with access to the discounted food and essentials, while its profits are reinvested into the hub area which delivers holistic support programmes to empower individuals to develop their own capabilities and deliver a positive future for themselves.
The kitchen is a café providing home-cooked meals for the community.
Sophie is patron to over 70 charities and organisations focusing on food production, women’s empowerment, eye health and disability support.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, she volunteered with a number of local food banks and supported NHS care workers.
Gary Stott, executive chairman of Community Shop, said: “We are honoured to have welcomed Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Edinburgh, to Community Shop Lambeth [yesterday].
“This royal visit highlights the vital importance of our mission and is a real boost for the Community Shop team who work tirelessly to tackle food insecurity.
“Our Lambeth store provides a lifeline for the local community and we’re proud to have created a vibrant, welcoming space where people come to share stories, learn and eat together.”
