Aftersufferinga life-threatening
ectopicpregnancyin2001,she
almostdiedfrombloodlosswhen
Louisewasbornprematurelyby
emergencyCaesareanin2003,
weighingjust4lb9oz.
Timtellsus:“Iphotographed
theCountessa fewyearsagoat
FrimleyParkHospital,where
LadyLouisewasborn,andI
thinksheactuallycriedbecause
it wasemotionalforher.”
Louisealso suffered from
strabismus,an eyecondition
characterisedbya squint,which
inspiredSophie’sworkwith
charitiesbattlingtoeradicate
preventableblindness.
SheisthepatronofVision
2020:TheRighttoSightand
global ambassador for the
InternationalAgencyfor the
PreventionofBlindness,while
thisyearshewenttoIndiaas
vicepatron ofthe Queen’sCommonwealth Trusttosee
its work tackling avoidable
blindnessinprematurebabies.MAKINGA DIFFERENCE
RebeccaCronin,chiefexecutive
ofOrbisUK,whoseFlyingEye
HospitalSophiehasvisitedin
India and Bangladesh,tells
hello!: “Thedepth of her
knowledgeofeyeconditions,her
interestintheareaandthetime
she takes whenspeaking to
everyoneis inspiring.
“TheCountesscapturesthe
heartsandmindsofeveryoneshe
meetsandwe’regratefulforthe
opportunitytoworkwithher.”
KarenSugarman,executive
vice-presidentoftheShooting
StarChildren’sHospices,also
praisesSophie’sdedicationas
theirroyalpatron.
“We’ve enjoyed many
wonderfulvisitstoourhospices,Edward, James
and Louise greet
Sophie following her
charity cycle ride from
Edinburgh to Buckingham
Palace in 2016; and the
Countess meets refugees in
Lebanon last week (below)PHOTOS: GEOFFREY SHAKERLEY/CAMERA PRESS. GETTY IMAGES. I-IMAGES. HRH THE DUKE OF YORK. KELVIN BRUCE. NUNN SYNDICATION. PA PHOTOS. REX FEATURES68