The Duchess of Edinburgh has presented top sports star, Hannah Hampton, with an award in recognition of her efforts to show that sight issues shouldn’t hold anyone back.
On World Sight Day, October 10 2025, Sophie handed over the ‘Love Your Eyes’ Special Recognition Award to the Lionesses and Chelsea player who said it was ‘incredible’ to receive the honour.
The award was for Hannah’s work to raise awareness of sight issues and to inspire others with her own story. She has strabismus, a condition which impacts depth perception in vision.
She underwent three operations as a young child to help with her eyesight and said as she received her award that without the help she was given and her own determination, she might not be playing football.
Hannah, who was part of the team that won the Euros in the summer for England, said of the prize ”tt’s incredible, I think it’s up there with some of the special ones I’ve received because of the importance of it and everything that it does for the younger generation to go out fulfil their dreams, like I did. It really means a lot.”
The Duchess of Edinburgh is passionate about good eye care and eye health. Her daughter, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, was born with esotropia and underwent several operations to support her sight.
Sophie’s work on eye health was recognised at the special ceremony which took place in London.
The Duchess was made an Honorary Fellow of The College of Optometrists in recognition of her work championing eye health in the UK and around the world. Sophie has undertaken dozens of trips to promote good eye care globally over the last two decades.
The presentation came during a special reception at the Apothecaries’ Hall in the City of London which is home to the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers.
It was held on World Sight Day which is held every year on the second Thursday of October to highlight vision issues and blindness and the impact these have on people around the world.
