The Duchess of Edinburgh captivated viewers on Tuesday night’s The One Show when she appeared in a pre-recorded clip as part of the BBC Children in Need and The One Show’s fundraiser, The Challenge Squad.
In the surprise segment, Duchess Sophie visited 21-year-old Emily, who has cerebral palsy, on the second day of her charity walk, The Long Walk, in Windsor.
Host Roman Kemp introduced the clip, saying: “Emily’s exhausted, but there’s still one last stretch to go and some special support awaiting her.”
As the footage showed Sophie approaching Emily, Roman added, “Hearing about her challenge, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh has come to see this remarkable young lady.”
The royal warmly greeted Emily, telling her: “You’re doing amazingly well.” Emily, who uses a wheelchair and walking sticks for mobility, replied, “I just did a whole lot of walking, which was tough, but I’m proud of myself for getting there.”
Sophie encouraged her, saying, “It’s called the Long Walk for a very good reason. It’s a very tough place to walk because it’s all in a straight line and you can see it. It doesn’t feel like it’s getting any shorter.”
The Duchess then asked Emily, “Do you think a lot of things, in terms of perception and visibility of disability, have changed during your lifetime?” Emily shared, “As I got older, I’m more in tune with the realities of our world. It’s been tough because I’ve had to integrate myself into a society that doesn’t necessarily accept people like me.”
As the pair neared the end of their journey, Sophie praised Emily for her incredible effort, saying, “You should be very proud of yourself. That’s a huge effort.”
The heartwarming clip was shared on The One Show’s social media, with the caption: “A Royal surprise! Emily is joined by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh on day two of her epic @BBCCiN walking challenge.”
Viewers were quick to praise both Emily and the Duchess for their support, with one commenting, “Well done, Emily!!! And super nice to see The Duchess of Edinburgh with her today,” and another adding, “Sophie is really lovely… today’s engagement is so heartwarming.”
Emily, from North London, was born prematurely with cerebral palsy, which affects her movement. From the age of three, she attended CPotential, a BBC Children in Need-supported charity that helps young people strengthen their bodies and improve their mobility.
Duchess Sophie’s appearance came just days after she led the Armistice Service at the National Arboretum, marking a royal first for her after previously attending with her husband, Prince Edward, in 2020.
