'He'll be very happy': Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh promises to deliver gift to King Charles in Nepal

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh has had a packed schedule of solo engagements on day two of a six-day royal tour to Nepal.

The mum-of-two, who has spoken openly in the past of her traumatic birth with Lady Louise, now 21, kicked off her official duties on Wednesday with a visit to a maternity hospital.

The 60-year-old was able to see Nepal's progress on maternal health and newborn care during the trip to Bhaktapur Hospital Maternity Wing, where she met clinicians and patients.

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Sophie then visited human trafficking charity Maiti Nepal, which King Charles visited in 1998, when he was still the Prince of Wales.

One of the women the Duchess of Edinburgh met, Anita Shrestha, was a five-year-old girl when then-Prince Charles had visited and told the royal the now-King made a lasting impression.

Shrestha, now 32, asked Sophie to take a gift of a handmade embroidered cushion for His Majesty, which the royal happily obliged.

She said it took months to make.

"I will take it to King Charles from you," Sophie told her, according to Telegraph UK.

"I'll give that to him with your love. He'll love this, he'll be very happy when he gets it."

In an accompanying letter to King Charles, the handicraft artisan wrote: "Please accept this gift, made with gratitude and respect, as a reminder of the lives you have touched."

The women's refuge supports survivors of sexual exploitation, gender-based violence and trafficking in Nepal and offers interventions that empower, educate, and heal women and children, fostering dignity, health and inclusion.

The duchess meet survivors in a group and during a life skills workshop, hearing their experiences, rehabilitation efforts and aspirations.

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The royal was also treated to a music class at the Mother Teresa School, chatting to the children and teachers there.

Sophie was dressed in a stunning floral print black maxi dress by Italian designer label Etro paired with patent nude Jimmy Choo sling backs for the outing, both items the royal has worn previously.

The royal then enjoyed a working lunch at Dwarika's Hotel, where she was greeted by a number of children with flowers for her.

Sophie met a number of prominent Nepali women, thought leaders and change-makers inside the event, hearing about the groups and communities protecting and promoting the rights, freedoms and potential of women and girls in the country.

Next on the agenda was a visit to Kirtipur Hospital, to see the work of the Ridley Eye Foundation.

Sophie is the Global Ambassador of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), so touring the eye hospital's facilities was something the royal took great interest in.

The duchess met with patients at the Eyecare Camp and even got hands on as she looked into different types of equipment.

After returning to the British Ambassador's Residence there was no time to put her feet up after a long day.

Sophie changed into a printed long dress, which she paired with wedge espadrilles, for the backyard reception at the residence, focused on youth.

Husband Prince Edward, who had his own solo engagements all day as well, was by his wife's side during the evening event.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are making their first visit to Nepal and are the first senior members of the British royal family to make an official visit in almost 30 years.

Charles visited in 1998, while the late Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip- Prince Edward's parents- made a trip in 1986.

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