The Duchess of Edinburgh visited EYECAN, Jersey's sole sight impairment charity, where she interacted with a guide dog and participated in various activities to support the organization. During her visit, she was seen petting a guide dog and tried her hand at making paper roses.
Sophie, 61, also tested glasses that simulate cataracts and used a cane, further engaging with the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals. She also explored a Braille Lego set and met with families supported by the charity, including young children Neveah and Novah Thorpe.
The Duchess also tried on a pair of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses equipped with AI technology, which can be used for capturing images, listening to music, and making calls. This exploration into assistive technology aligns with her broader work as a sight loss campaigner.
Sophie's engagement with EYECAN is part of a two-day trip to Jersey, which began with her becoming the first royal to visit Les Écréhous. The trip aims to highlight the island's commitment to sustainable food production.
Earlier in the week, the Duchess joined other senior royals, including King Charles and Queen Camilla, at Windsor Castle for the annual service of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. The Duchess of Edinburgh has previously spoken about her personal motivation for championing sight loss causes, citing her daughter Lady Louise Windsor's childhood vision issues. Lady Louise was born prematurely and experienced strabismus, a condition that caused a significant squint, which has since been corrected.
The visit to EYECAN concluded with the Duchess unveiling a plaque to commemorate her visit. The Duchess's attire for the day included a floral-patterned dress, gold earrings, a delicate necklace, and golden sandals, with temperatures in Jersey reaching up to 31C.