HRH The Countess of Wessex

The Countess of Wessex is passionate about supporting programmes that are focussed on eradicating avoidable blindness. As Patron of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight, Her Royal Highness has travelled to India, Tanzania, Qatar and Bangladesh and has had the opportunity to see first-hand the difference vision-focussed charities and organisations can make to people all over the world when equipped with the right knowledge, experience and funding.

The Countess of Wessex is a former communications professional and the theme of supporting people who have difficulties communicating freely has permeated her work since her marriage to HRH The Prince Edward in 1999. Charities focussed on visual impairment have been central to The Countess' public role since then.

HRH has been a Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Avoidable Blindness (IAPB) since 2003 and, in 2014, became Vice-Patron of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust. The Trust works with partners across the Commonwealth to end avoidable blindness.