The historic Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle was transformed into an opulent cinema last night for a landmark royal event. The Duchess of Edinburgh brought considerable glitz and glamour to the premiere of King Charles's passion project film, a deeply personal environmental documentary titled Finding Harmony. Sophie, 61, made a striking entrance in a repurposed emerald green Galvan gown, originally worn six years ago at a London film premiere, demonstrating her commitment to sustainable fashion.
A Night of Sustainable Style and Star Power
Sophie's choice of attire was both elegant and meaningful. The £1,350 ankle-skimming satin dress featured a flattering high neckline and was perfectly complemented by black and gold stilettos. She accessorised with dainty jewellery, including a gold brooch pinned to the gown, diamond bracelets, and matching earrings. Her hair was styled in an elegant updo, with soft, dewy makeup completing the look for one of Windsor Castle's most star-studded events in recent history.
Royal Re-wear and Celebrity Encounters
Eagle-eyed royal fans will recall that Sophie, then the Countess of Wessex, first wore this distinctive gown to the London premiere of the childhood abuse drama Sulphur And White in 2018. Last night, she effortlessly charmed the King's A-list guests, engaging in animated conversations throughout the evening. The former PR executive was photographed deep in discussion with the film's narrator, Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet, who led the celebrity arrivals.
As Sophie made her rounds supporting this cause deeply close to the King's heart, she was spotted conversing with numerous other stars. Stanley Tucci, Dame Judi Dench, and Benedict Cumberbatch were among the notable figures she engaged with during the premiere. Other celebrity guests included Sir Rod Stewart, who attended with his wife Penny Lancaster, putting on a very loved-up display for photographers.
The King's Personal Environmental Mission
The documentary Finding Harmony represents a significant departure from traditional royal films. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson emphasised that this is "a deeply personal exploration of ideas that have shaped His Majesty's life and work." The film celebrates Charles's long-term philosophy and commitment to sustainability, exploring the interconnectedness of all things and the wisdom of traditional knowledge.
Revealing Personal Insights and Historical Context
In the 90-minute documentary, produced in collaboration with his charity The King's Foundation for Amazon MGM Studios, Charles delivers sobering environmental warnings. He states that the situation is "rapidly going backwards" and that mankind is "actually destroying our means to survival." Yet he expresses hope that "by the time I shuffle off this mortal coil" there might be greater awareness of the "need to bring things back together again."
The film includes remarkably personal moments, showing the King collecting eggs from chickens at the "Cluckingham Palace" coop on his Highgrove estate. He reveals his love for crispy baked potatoes, declaring "red Duke of Yorks" as the best variety. Archive footage shows Charles teaching a young Prince Harry how to fish at Balmoral, while the Prince of Wales appears as a small child with his father at Highgrove.
Overcoming Criticism and Establishing Legacy
The documentary addresses how Charles emerged as a key environmental figure over the years despite facing criticism. Kate Winslet notes he made regular keynote speeches despite "cries from some that he should take a back seat." Particularly poignant is the inclusion of archive footage from a 1986 interview where Charles described talking to plants, an admission that left him "quite upset" due to unfair treatment.
Ian Skelly, co-author of the King's 2010 Harmony book, recalls: "Those criticisms really upset him. He got treated very unfairly, seen very unfairly, and those of us that knew him better were quite upset by that." The documentary explores the origins, evolution, and scientific foundations of Charles's harmony philosophy, which he originally set out in his 2010 book Harmony: A New Way Of Looking At Our World.
A New Benchmark for Royal Documentaries
The Buckingham Palace spokesperson declared that Finding Harmony "sets a new high watermark for royal documentaries," noting there are "no golden carriages here; no glittering crowns or crimson robes." Instead, the film presents a thoughtful exploration of the King's environmental philosophy and his belief that "we can build a future that works in partnership with nature rather than against it."
Following its glitzy Windsor Castle premiere, the Amazon-produced documentary will receive global distribution. It is scheduled for release on Prime Video in over 240 countries worldwide on February 6. Meanwhile, HarperCollins will republish the King's Harmony book in March to coincide with the documentary's release, ensuring his environmental message reaches an even wider audience.
