Duchess Sophie returns to royal duties after being forced to miss Easter service

The Duchess of Edinburgh was expected to attend the Easter Sunday service with senior royals such as King Charles and Queen Camilla, but dropped out due to illness

NEWBURY, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 29: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attends The Coral Gold Cup at Newbury Racecourse on November 29, 2025 in Newbury, England. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)

he Duchess of Edinburgh has returned to royal duties after taking more than three weeks away from the public eye.

On April 5, Sophie, 61, skipped the traditional Easter Sunday church service with senior royals, including the King and Queen, at St George’s Chapel, despite being expected to attend. HELLO! understands that she was feeling “under the weather”, while her daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, 22, was also absent due to her university studies.

However, on Monday, Sophie made a bright return to public duties as she formally opened the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Veterans’ Centre at Royal Hospital Chelsea in London.

Sophie looked radiant, wearing an electric blue Gabriela Hearst midi dress paired with Jimmy Choo pumps and a blue clutch, beaming as she carried out the visit.

The Duchess toured the centre and met veterans who are benefiting from the Chelsea Pensioner Veterans Outreach Programme. According to a post on the Royal Family’s social media accounts, the new centre will provide a welcoming space for veterans to socialise, stay active and build friendships.

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On Monday, the royal, who is married to Prince Edward, also attended a reception for the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms Reception at St. James’s Palace.

A gap in the official schedule

Previously, Sophie was last seen publicly on 23 March, making an appearance at the Reasons For Hope Gala celebrating Dr Jane Goodall’s legacy in support of the Jane Goodall Institute UK at The Peninsula London.

She did not attend the Easter service and didn’t join Prince Edward at a National Youth Orchestra event in Glasgow over the weekend.

It meant there was an unexpected 21-day gap between her public appearances – a change from her usually packed schedule. Aside from getting ill over the Easter weekend, it’s likely that Sophie has been spending time with her children, Lady Louise, and James, Earl of Wessex, 18, during their breaks from university and school.

However, the Duke and Duchess and Edinburgh are believed to have stayed in Sandringham over the Easter weekend for their traditional getaway.

They would usually stay in Wood Farm cottage, but were forced to rethink due to complications with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s living arrangements. Andrew had been expected to move to his permanent home, Marsh Farm, by Easter weekend, but remained in Prince Philip’s old retirement home in the days afterwards.

duchess sophie jane goodall event© Dave Benett/Getty Images
Sophie’s last public appearance was on March 23

The royal calendar

Luckily, Sophie appears to have recovered from her illness and is making a full return to public duties in the coming weeks.

duchess sophie jane goodall event© Dave Benett/Getty Images
Sophie is known as one of the hardest-working royals

On Wednesday, she is set to attend a conference at Discovery House as patron of Plan International UK. That day, she will also attend the International Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Exhibition at RHS Lindley Hall as Royal Patron of the Treloar Trust.

According to the royal diary, Sophie currently isn’t down for any more engagements until 30 April, when she will carry out a series of visits in Shropshire.