The Duchess of Edinburgh charmed admirers on Thursday evening when she emulated Kate Middleton by presenting a touching CBeebies Bedtime Story to mark World Sight Day.
During the special appearance , Sophie, aged 59, narrated Specs For Rex by Yasmeen Ismail. The children’s narrative centres on a young lion apprehensive about wearing his new spectacles to school.
Sported casually in a soft pink jumper with smart trousers and sporting her own glasses, Sophie engagingly offered up the tale to little viewers settling down at home. She even embraced a plush version of Rex, as she encouraged the audience to stay tuned for the crucial bedtime story.
Her words: “Do you or does anyone in your family wear glasses? Rex used to feel a little shy about wearing his glasses. They’ll help him to see better, and they look fabulous, too. Make sure you join us for tonight’s CBeebies Bedtime Story to find out how Rex gets on with his new specs.”
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Viewers were thrilled with both Sophie’s story choice and her storytelling skills, sparking comments from some who joked that she might have overlooked a potential career in teaching!, reports the Mirror.
One admirer penned: “The Duchess of Edinburgh would have made a wonderful teacher. Her voice is soft and soothing,”.
Another concurred, stating: “Couldn’t agree more! What a gorgeous voice.”
Additional praises included “Love her voice,” and “Beautiful voice”.
One supporter took to social media to commend the Duchess of Edinburgh for shining light on a crucial yet often overlooked issue, saying: “Wow the Duchess of Edinburgh that’s a wonderful idea. Thank you I think all the children all over the world will feel more comfortable wearing there glasses to school and thank you for all your hard work too. You’re amazing.”
Sophie not only won admiration from youngsters and their guardians but also emphasised the significance of World Sight Day during the episode broadcast on Thursday 10 October. In a clip released before the show, the Duchess remarked: “Millions of us need glasses to see the world clearly. World Sight Day is a reminder to all of us to take care of our eyes, whether we need glasses or not. Our eyes are precious, and our sight is something to cherish and look after. So, let’s remember to take care of our eyes this World Sight Day.”
The cause holds evident importance to Sophie, given her recent trip to Tanzania last month in her role as Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). Notably, she is not the first Royal to feature in a CBeebies bedtime story segment, following in the footsteps of the Princess of Wales who was part of such an endeavour in 2022, reading ‘The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark’ by Jill Tomlinson.
The princess, who serves as the Royal patron of Place2Be, a charity focused on children’s mental health, made an appearance on the CBeebies show in recognition of Children’s Mental Health Week, a cause she deeply resonates with.
Moreover, the programme has seen a host of celebrities over the years, including big names like Tom Hardy, Dolly Parton, Harry Styles and Dave Grohl.