The Duchess of Edinburgh will make a rare on-screen appearance next week on CBeebies Bedtime Story to celebrate World Sight Day on Thursday, October 10.
Sophie will read Specs for Rex, the story of a little lion reluctant to wear his new glasses to school. The Duchess is dedicated to supporting the sight loss community and raising awareness about preventable blindness.
In a trailer for the CBeebies program, Her Royal Highness shares, “Millions of us need glasses to see the world clearly. World Sight Day is a reminder for all of us to take care of our eyes, whether we need glasses or not. Our eyes are precious, and our sight is something to cherish and protect. So, let’s remember to care for our eyes this World Sight Day.”
This cause is particularly meaningful for Sophie, as her daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, overcame vision issues after being diagnosed with a condition at just 18 months old. Louise was diagnosed with esotropia, which caused her to have a squint in one eye that turned inward, according to the NHS.
Although her first surgery was unsuccessful, a second procedure in 2014 corrected Louise’s eyesight. Sophie previously shared with the Sunday Express, “She’s fine now – her eyesight is perfect.” She added, “Premature babies can often have squints because the eyes are the last thing to fully develop.”
Sophie’s appearance on the show will be the second time a member of the British Royal Family has participated in the BBC program. The Princess of Wales was the first royal to read for CBeebies back in February 2022 during Children’s Mental Health Week. Kate read The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Tomlinson, a story she fondly recalled from her childhood.
After her reading, the mother of three remarked, “Wow, what an encouraging tale. We can all feel scared sometimes, just like our little owl friend, Plop. But, as Mrs. Barn Owl said, it’s better to learn about the things that scare us before we make up our minds. And with the help of others, we can often face our worries. Now it’s time for bed. Night, night, and sleep tight.”
