Countess of Wessex tours India

The Duchess met with students and learned about the "Happiness Curriculum". Photo: PA

Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, is in India this week to meet with programs supported by the Queen's Jubilee Trust that are helping premature infants with avoidable blindness. During her visit she saw the screening programs at Gandhi Medical College and met with mothers waiting to have their babies screened. Preventable blindness has been a major focus point for the Countess for very personal reasons.

Lady Louise, the Countess's daughter, was born prematurely via emergency c-section owing to placental abruption. Both Sophie and Louise experienced complications including blood loss and Louise was born with esotropia, a condition that causes the eyes to turn inwards. Lady Louise underwent treatment for the condition in 2006 and again in 2013 in order to correct this. Subsequently, Sophie has supported people all over the globe with vision problems and trying to eliminate avoidable blindness.

Lady Louise Windsor with her mother, The Countess of Wessex at Trooping the Colour in 2009. Photo: Getty

Her tour also included visits to L V Prasad Eye Institute, Niloufer Hospital, meeting with India's first professional midwives and some of the children treated by the Queens Jubilee Trust programs. Beyond seeing how India is preventing blindness she visited the Sassoon Dock with Oscar Foundation which is helping support young boys and girl in challenging circumstances and provide them with better opportunities.

While she does not receive the attention some of the younger royals do, she is a favorite staple for Royal watchers. She carries herself with such grace and her fashion is always impeccable, this tour being no exception. I think it's always so clear when a member of the Royal Family is passionate about their projects and it shines through when Sophie is doing work with blindness and with children.

The Countess of Wessex is a full time working royal who has dedicated her time to prevention of blindness in developing countries, support for the disabled, agriculture and fashion. xx