Duchess of Edinburgh plays around with VR tech 

The Duchess of Edinburgh sported a pair of VR goggles as she enjoyed a visit to The Gherkin in London yesterday.

Sophie, 58, looked delighted to play around with Orbis Visionaries tech in her role as the Global Ambassador for The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.

The royal sported a chic cerulean blue ensemble perfect for the sunny Spring day.

She teamed her chic short-sleeve-top-and-skirt combo with a leopard-print clutch.

Cream stiletto heels tied the look together as Sophie opted for minimal golden jewellery.

The Duchess styled her blonde tresses in loose waves and wore a glam face of make-up, accentuating her eyes with dark mascara.

The event celebrated vital advancements in eye health, from simulation and Virtual Reality training with FundamentalVR, to Artificial Intelligence to support the diagnosis of eye conditions, to Women Led Green Vision Centres, which tackle gender related barriers to seeking eye care.

It comes as over the weekend, Sophie joined the Royal Family at Windsor Castle to celebrate Easter and earlier this week visited HMS Daring in Portsmouth, while the docked Royal Navy destroyer undergoes maintenance and renovation.

The mother-of-two watched a presentation on the progress of the ship’s lengthy refit and regeneration programme before completing a tour around the vessel.

To board the ship, the radiant Duchess swapped her smart cream suit for full protective gear, including overalls, safety boots and glasses, a helmet and gloves.

Prince Edward’s wife teamed her suit with a white shirt, and added a touch of glitz to her ensemble with a pair of dainty blue earrings.

She completed her elegant look with a smattering of glamorous makeup, while keeping her blonde locks in a sophisticated up-do.  

Elsewhere on Sunday, the Duchess seemed to pull out all the stops when attending the Easter service alongside other senior royals. 

The royal sported a chic cerulean blue ensemble perfect for the sunny Spring day. She teamed her chic short-sleeve-top-and-skirt combo with a leopard-print clutch

Sophie commanded attention in a cream Philip Treacy hat, which boasted a wide brim and eye-catching height as she arrived at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

She teamed her statement headpiece with a pink Catherine Walker coat and cream knee-high boots, as well as a matching clutch bag. 

Attending the royal event alongside her husband Prince Edward, 59, and their 15-year-old son James, Earl of Wessex, Sophie looked effortlessly elegant for her first appearance at the annual service since gaining the title of Duchess of Edinburgh.

It’s unclear why Sophie and Edward’s daughter Lady Louise, 19, wasn’t at Sunday’s occasion. 

Edward and Sophie, previously the Countess and Earl of Wessex, were given their new titles in February, some six months after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September. 

The Duchess styled her blonde tresses in loose waves and wore a glam face of make-up, accentuating her eyes with dark mascara

Sunday’s service was likely bittersweet for members of the Firm, as it marked the first without the late Queen – and the second anniversary of the death of Prince Philip.

Other royals making an appearance in their Sunday best included the Prince and Princess of Wales, who brought their children Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four, to the event. 

Also in attendance were the Tindalls, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Princess Anne, who was accompanied by her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.

Following in the footsteps of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth, who always held Easter Court at her beloved Berkshire residence, Charles was accompanied by his wife, the Queen Consort.

A staple in the royal calendar, last year’s event saw the now-Prince and Princess of Wales attend in the spring sunshine with their two eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

The Princess of Wales and the Queen Consort both opted for royal blues as their outfit of choice for Easter Sunday, with the mother-of-three arriving hand-in-hand with her youngest son Prince Louis, who was joining the family at the service for the first time.