The Countess of Wessex joined bike riders in support of the London-based Vision-Foundation. The popular royal joined riders in Bushy Park, south-west London to mark the occasion and received widespread praise from royal fans on social media for her support. One commented: "She is a true gem."

       Another said: "The Countess of Wessex is amazing in her many initiatives! Really nice and sporty."

       A third said: "Love this! What a brilliant foundation!"

       A fourth said: "That’s a great foundation. I love the Countess."

       Sophie has been the patron of the foundation since 2003 and was joined on a tandem bike by the charity's appeal manager, Monica Smith.

       The royal was also the rider for the lead tandem and was joined by 10 riders and stokers for the event today.

       The event was organised to promote the See My Skills report which aims to tackle unemployment among those who are either blind or partially sighted.

       Ms Smith, who has been blind all her life said it had been lovely to chat to the royal.

       She also claimed the afternoon had been like cycling "with a friend" as she praised the Duchess of Wessex.

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       She added: "She was chatting away, describing everything that was going on, talking about the partnership between a tandem and those who are sighted and not sighted.

       "It was really just like going out cycling with a friend, it was really lovely.

       "Yesterday when we had a trial run, she said I was the one that was calming her down, and she said that if I had not been calm then she would not have been able to do it.

       "She was amazingly down to earth and just understood my situation completely."

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       Olivia Curno, Chief executive of the Vision Foundation, also praised the Countess for attending the event.

       Mr Curno also revealed Sophie had been an "amazing champion" for those who suffer from sight issues since she became patron almost 20 years ago.

       She said: "The Countess of Wessex is an amazing champion of sight loss charities and disability employment, so it is incredible for us to have her here today shining her spotlight on this really really important issue.

       "She has come to have fun and be active with a group of six visually impaired stokers and sighted pilots.

       "We are here to have a lovely bike ride, but there is a really serious point to today which is that levels of unemployment for blind and partially sighted people are still unacceptably high.