Princess Anne wraps up warm in a navy coat and matching beanie in Dublin

The Princess Royal was shown around some of Ireland’s oldest lighthouses during her weekend visit to the capital.

Princess Anne, 68, travelled to the Howth district of Dublin where lighthouses have guided ships at Baily since 1667.

During the guided tour, she then observed the comparatively younger 19th century Rockabill Lighthouse at Skerries and the Kish Lighthouse off Dublin Bay.

The Queen’s only daughter sported a navy coat, matching beanie and sunglasses as she explored the city. 

Hosted by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, Anne met staff and heard about their work providing vital maritime safety services and modern navigation aids at its Dun Laoghaire headquarters.

She also toured the navigation vessel, ILV Granuaile during her two-day visit that began on Friday.

The mother-of-two was visiting in her role as Master of Trinity House as part of the ongoing 150-year relationship between Irish Lights and the Lighthouse Authorities of Great Britain and Ireland.

Irish Lights chief executive Yvonne Shields O’Connor said it was a ‘great privilege’ to host the royal.

‘Not only have we a strong historical relationship with Trinity House and Northern Lighthouse Board, we have an essential day-to-day working relationship and warm ties of friendship,’ she said.

‘I am honoured to have this opportunity to showcase the vital work Irish Lights does, in particular with regard to providing essential safety services through the use of modern technology in visual and electronic navigation aids, as well as our Met and Coastal Data services.

She continued: ‘While our work is progressive and forward-focused, we are also immeasurably proud of our rich heritage and we are delighted that the Princess Royal’s visit has also included a trip to one of the very first lighthouses built by Irish Lights in 1814, the Baily Lighthouse.’

‘The Princess Royal is a great champion of the maritime sector and we appreciate her visit as a source of encouragement to our own work and in terms of strengthening the bonds between the three lighthouse authorities.’ 

It comes just a day after her granddaughter Mia Tindall was spotted on the shoulder’s of Prince William.

Mia, five, the daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall, was hoisted aloft by her mum’s cousin, the Duke of Cambridge, as she made a grab for his ears.

Wills appeared to wince as Mia clung on, perhaps fearing that he might end up like his father Prince Charles – who is often lampooned for his outsized lugs.

Not to be outdone, Mia’s cousin Princess Charlotte, three, took the high road too, on the shoulders of her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, 37. Kate sported trendy tight black jeans and a Barbour quilted jacket. 

The Cambridges and Tindalls joined up to watch Zara, a former silver medal Olympian, compete in the trials on Friday.