Jolly hockey sticks
Jolly hockey sticks! Countess of Couture Sophie Wessex wears a £935 Peter Pilotto dress for knock-around with her daughter - before they cheer England team to gold medal
She's famous for her love of expensive clothes and today was no exception for Sophie Wessex, 50, who arrived wearing a £935 Peter Pilotto dress for a game of hockey.
The Countess, who was joined for the day by her 11-year-old daughter Lady Louise Windsor, was at the Unibet EuroHockey Championships in London to see England's ladies take on the Netherlands for the gold medal.
Before settling down to watch the game, at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, the 50-year-old chose to show off her skills by hitting a few goals of her own.
Clearly enjoying herself, the Countess, who was wearing high navy wedges, managed a run-up before whacking the ball into the back of the net.
Just as effective was Lady Louise, who unlike her mother, came wearing a rather more sporty get-up of a navy shirt and a pair of bright red chinos.
Despite the risk of an unscheduled encounter with some mud, this isn't the first time that the Countess has worn Pilotto to an outdoor engagement.
Earlier this summer, the same dress was worn for a visit to Thames Valley School, which specialises in teaching pupils with autism.
On that occasion, a cheerful-looking Sophie teamed the frock with a pair of £451 Prada pumps, a £368 jacket by Sandro and a £88 pair of faux sapphire drop earrings.
The dress was already on its second outing having been worn for the first time for a trip to the Chelsea Flower Show - on that occasion worn with the same Sandro jacket, a pair of £353 Jimmy Choo pumps and a pair of diamond studs that are thought to have been a gift from her husband.
Today's visit was the Countess' first solo outing since July and only her second this month - the other being the VJ Day commemoration.
Like the rest of the royal family, the Earl and Countess of Wessex have kept a low profile for much of August and spent last week at Balmoral with the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.
The visit coincided with a private performance from the Sons of Scotland, a Canadian pipe band founded in 1896, which had travelled to the Aberdeenshire Castle to play for the Queen.
Although Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are also holidaying in Scotland, they are based at nearby Birkhall and were not present for the performance.
The family were together, however, on the 15th August for the VJ Day commemorations, which were attended by Charles and Camilla and the Wessexes.
Sophie, who is patron of the Java Far East Prisoners of War Club, used the occasion to give a second outing to the ivory silk striped dress by Emilia Wickstead first worn during Royal Ascot.
Wickstead, whose designs are also seen regularly on the Duchess of Cambridge and Samantha Cameron, is a favourite of Sophie's and a fixture in her wardrobe.