Sophie Wessex is currently in Malawi to mark World Sight Day, and during her trip, the countess shared an emotional message from her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II.
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Speaking of the country's elimination of the eye disease trachoma, Sophie said: "Last time I returned from Malawi, when I had travelled on [the Queen's] behalf, I told her all about my visit and she was so moved by the amazing work taking place here.
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"This summer, before she passed away, she also knew that I was returning to Malawi and why.
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"She knew of Malawi's achievement and was so pleased that this was made possible by the fund, with eyesight being its principle objective. She was so happy for Malawians."
Sophie was referring to the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust Fund, which provides financial support to help combat avoidable blindness across the Commonwealth including in Malawi.
© Photo: Getty ImagesSophie Wessex spoke in Malawi
Countess Sophie is Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), a position she took following her personal experience with her daughter Lady Louise Windsor's rare eye condition.
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Lady Louise was born with a rare eye condition called esotropia, which caused one eye to turn inwards.
© Photo: Getty ImagesSophie Wessex told Malawi residents on the Queen's joy
The now 18-year-old royal's eye condition compelled Countess Sophie to research blindness, a passion that led her to be named the Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.
She has raised awareness for several sight charities over the years, including Seeing Is Believing, blindness prevention charity Orbis UK and The Visions Foundation, which works to help people who are visually impaired.
Over one billion people live with preventable sight loss and in 2012, the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust (QEDJT) was launched, with the aim to end avoidable blindness across the Commonwealth and beyond.
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