A Bermudian handbag designer has been given the royal spotlight after Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, sported one of her bags during her visit to Bermuda last week.

Frances Trott, the owner of ShellBell, had her product featured in several social-media posts from local and international groups.

Ms Trott said it felt good to be recognised by the Duchess, especially on such a large stage.

She added: “I feel like making handbags has always just been a little creative outlet but now, after seeing the Duchess wear it, I think it’s a reminder that it’s a great concept, a great idea and definitely worth continuing.”

Ms Trott has been running ShellBell for about three years after being inspired to follow in the footsteps of her grandmother, Foxy Trott Cooper, who owned the fashion store Bamboo Gate.

Her bags are offered at Tabs, the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, Rosewood Tucker’s Point and the Coral Beach Club.

Ms Trott said that she first spotted her feature after seeing a photo of the Duchess with her handbag on the Government’s Instagram page.

The picture was from the Royal Bermuda Regiment’s 60th anniversary celebration on October 18, which the Duchess attended through her dual role as the regiment’s Colonel-in-Chief.

Ms Trott said that she initially had friends reach out to her about the photograph but then learnt that it was featured on the Royal Family’s Instagram page.

She added that Royal British Fashion’s Instagram page took notice and contacted her the next day for a feature story on the bag.

“It was nuts,” Ms Trott said. “It’s a little brand and it’s something that I just started out of a passion, so to then have people sending me pictures of the Duchess wearing the bag and to have such huge influencers for the royals to message me is crazy.”

The Duchess brought the bag along to several other events, including a tree-planting ceremony and an operational service medal ceremony.

The handbag, Ms Trott noted, was from the Bermuda Cedar Collection and had a distinctive map of the island engraved on a small wooden plank on its top.

She said that she was unsure where the Duchess got the handbag but was honoured to be spotlighted regardless.

Ms Trott said: “I’m just so impressed with her graciously shining a light on Bermuda talent and its creativity. I think it was a lovely touch to her trip.”

She added: “I think that there’s always an interest for something unique and something that’s one of a kind, so I think that it’s really, really nice to see that being showcased.”

ShellBell bags are designed in Bermuda by Ms Trott, made in Bali, Indonesia, and finished with an island engraving on Bermuda cedar attached.

ShellBell bags come in five styles, with more to be released next spring.