Sophie Wessex's hospital visit tinged with difficult memories that once saw her 'burst into tears'
Sophie Wessex's hospital visit is her first engagement of 2023 and sees her thrown in at the deep end at a location linked to traumatic time
![Sophie, Countess of Wessex visits the Multi-Skills Day and Celebration Event for Whizz-Kidz at Guildford Baptist Church on December 1, 2022 in Guildford, England.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wga8vWfMTD4xMXHXPeK6cT-415-80.jpg)
Sophie Wessex's hospital visit to Heatherwood Hospital, which is in the same NHS Trust Lady Louise Windsor was born, is likely to open old wounds as a previous visit saw her 'burst into tears' for the most heart wrenching reason.
- Sophie Wessex's hospital visit came the day before her 58th birthday.
- The hardworking royal also visited a local school and looked radiant while meeting very excited pupils.
- In other royal news, Kate Middleton reveals the surprising way she stays fit and it doesn't involve the gym.
We were delighted to be visited by HRH The Countess of Wessex today to mark the 60th anniversary of CJS and the opening of our new STEAM Lab! We kept her very busy with food tech, pottery, computing and dancing on the Astro! pic.twitter.com/FWU5d3PtKfJanuary 19, 2023
Sophie Wessex's special occasion may be tinged with sadness this year, as the Royal Family remains silent despite being embroiled in the ongoing fallout from Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare. However, the hardworking royal appeared on top form during her first engagement of 2023 - despite it being at a location linked to one of her most challenging experiences.
Lady Louise's birth, despite being the most joyous experience for her parents, was also a tremendously traumatic experience for her parents - especially her mother. The popular young royal was born ahead of schedule after her mother was rushed to Frimley Park hospital in labor - a month early. Sadly, as her father Prince Edward was in Mauritius at the time, he wasn't home in time to be present at her birth.
The young royal was born via an emergency cesarean section on Saturday, November 8, weighing 4lbs 9oz. As Lady Louise was premature, she received specialist care at St George's Hospital neonatal unit in Tooting, London. If this wasn't difficult enough for her mother to cope with, the trauma of the birth meant that Sophie lost nine pints of blood through internal bleeding. That meant she needed to stay in hospital for 16 days in Frimley Hospital - 35 miles from her newborn baby.
It was on a return trip that Sophie made to Frimley Hospital to open the hospital’s new neonatal unit back in 2014 that, per the Daily Mail, she was photographed overcome with emotion hugging the midwife who helped her during her labor. The Countess reportedly said, "the service you can provide can literally make the difference between life and death. I can attest to that."
Lady Louise was born with esotropia, a condition that made her eyes turn inward, which was later treated with surgery. As a result of her experience, Countess Sophie has taken a special interest in charities relating to premature birth. She has also supported a number of blindness prevention charities and is a global ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.
HELLO! reports that during a visit to India back in 2019 the royal discussed the film A Life with Sight. "Each time I see it, it makes me cry," she said. "My daughter, Louise, was born prematurely and so every time I see anything to do with premature babies, it takes me back to those early days, the shock of her early arrival, and then the realization that she had a sight issue, which we would have to manage."
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
Over 19 years later, Lady Louise is Sophie Wessex's mini-me. As her mother officially opened Frimley Health’s new center of excellence for non-emergency care, including their ophthalmology unit, it's likely many memories have flooded back.
Aoife is an Irish journalist and writer with a background in creative writing, comedy, and TV production.
Formerly woman&home's junior news editor and a contributing writer at Bustle, her words can be found in the Metro, Huffpost, Delicious, Imperica and EVOKE.
Her poetry features in the Queer Life, Queer Love anthology.
Outside of work you might bump into her at a garden center, charity shop, yoga studio, lifting heavy weights, or (most likely) supping/eating some sort of delicious drink/meal.
-
The Buckingham Palace privilege Kate and Prince William received from Queen Elizabeth that no-one else has had since
The Prince and Princess of Wales are still the last royals to have received a rare Buckingham Palace privilege after plans were changed
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
How often should you clean your air fryer? Appliance experts are all in agreement on the answer
Air fryers have taken the world by storm and for good reason. But how often should you be cleaning this efficient appliance?
By Emily Smith Published
-
Duchess Sophie’s cow print shoulder bag was the playfully unusual accessory we still can't believe she wore
Duchess Sophie's cow print shoulder bag combined a timeless design with a statement pattern and it's an accessory we'll never forget
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Duchess Sophie’s turquoise wide leg jumpsuit is the versatile dress alternative we all need in our wardrobes
The Duchess of Edinburgh proved in 2018 that a wide leg jumpsuit can be every bit as elegant as a dress and her colour choice was striking
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Duchess Sophie's chunky white Puma trainers are so easy to work into your style rotation - and they're at the lowest price we've seen
The Duchess of Edinburgh's chunky Puma trainers are a bargain buy
By Caitlin Elliott Published
-
Duchess Sophie’s life-changing moment that lead to royal romance with Prince Edward almost didn't happen
The Duchess of Edinburgh reportedly stepped in at the last minute and made quite an impression on Prince Edward at a charity photocall
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Duchess Sophie's surprisingly sassy Wimbledon clutch proved having fun with accessories is key
The Duchess of Edinburgh brought out a bold slogan clutch bag for Wimbledon 2019 and it shows what an impact accessories can make
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Duchess Sophie upholds her own royal fashion tradition with dusty blue Garden Party outfit and her maxi dress is divine
The Duchess of Edinburgh chose a beautiful blue outfit for a Garden Party in Scotland and we're adding this shade to our wardrobe
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Duchess Sophie delivered British summertime in an outfit with her pastel pink co-ord, cream blazer and espadrille wedges
The Duchess of Edinburgh's co-ord, light blazer and espadrille wedges are such a fabulous combination this time of year
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Duchess Sophie perfects floral dressing with multi-tonal pink accessories and coral lipstick for Ascot
The Duchess of Edinburgh looked radiant in florals and pinks for the third day of Ascot
By Caitlin Elliott Published