Duchess of Edinburgh makes royal history with trip to British island

The Duchess of Edinburgh concluded a landmark two-day working visit to Jersey this week, during which she became the first member of the Royal Family to set foot on Les Écréhous.

Sophie, 61, stayed on the Channel Island between June 23 and 24 to learn about Jersey's dairy farming industry and its dedication to sustainable food production.

The historic trip to the remote reef of Les Écréhous on Tuesday marked a royal first, as the Duchess explored the island's environmental initiatives and commitment to protecting its natural surroundings.

Prince Edward's wife braved sweltering conditions throughout her visit, with temperatures climbing as high as 31C on the first day of engagements.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

During her first day on the island, the duchess engaged with local farmers, food producers, and environmental leaders to understand Jersey's approach to sustainable agriculture and care for its natural landscape.

Sophie also spent time with youngsters participating in the Fish in Schools programme, observing students as they prepared seafood dishes alongside local residents.

The duchess later embarked on a boat trip from St Catherine's Breakwater, donning a life vest and sun cap for the excursion.

That evening, she attended a reception hosted by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children at Government House, where she met with NSPCC representatives and guests from various local charitable organisations across the island.

On the second day of her visit, the Duchess called at Eyecan, Jersey's sole charity supporting islanders living with sight impairment.

Sophie received an affectionate welcome from a guide dog upon her arrival at the centre, before immersing herself in activities designed to raise awareness of visual disabilities.

The 61-year-old tested specialist glasses that simulate the effects of cataracts, using a cane to navigate while wearing them.

LATEST ROYAL NEWS

• Bill Gates tells Congress he 'never' discussed Jeffrey Epstein with Andrew
• Palace says King's historic tax disclosure is 'the right thing to do'
• Harry and Meghan ally takes senior Liberal Democrat role ahead of UK security decision

She also experimented with Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses featuring AI technology capable of capturing photographs, playing music, and handling telephone calls.

The duchess then tried her hand at Braille Lego and participated in a crafts session, creating roses from pink paper.

During her time at the charity, Sophie met five-year-old Neveah Thorpe and her 18-month-old sibling Novah before unveiling a commemorative plaque.

Sophie's dedication to sight loss advocacy stems from a deeply personal experience, having been moved to campaign for blind and visually impaired people worldwide following her daughter Lady Louise Windsor's early struggles with vision.

Lady Louise was born prematurely in 2003 with strabismus, a condition that caused what Sophie has described as a "profound" squint, though the problem has since been surgically corrected.

The Jersey visit followed a busy period for the duchess, who recently joined senior royals at Windsor Castle for the annual Order of the Garter service at St George's Chapel.

Sophie and Prince Edward also celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary during Royal Ascot, having married on June 19, 1999.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter