In a rare royal move, Princess Beatrice has spoken out about the difficult affects of dyslexia, and the challenges she faced growing up because of it.
The striking new interview has done the rounds on social media, sparking fans to re-share and discuss – and for a good reason.
Beatrice, who was due to marry her fiancee Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at the end of this month before the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to the expected large gathering, has rarely spoken out on issues that have so deeply affected her before.
Which makes the video she just did for Made By Dyslexia all the more special.
The royal spoke candidly about how the condition was not a disability in a bid to reduce the stigma attached to it.
“It develops as you develop, it grows. It’s part of you, it’s part of how your brain develops,” she explained.
“It is not something that is wrong with you. It is a great part of how your brain works, and everybody’s brain works incredibly differently. There is nothing wrong, there is just everything that is so right.”
Princess Beatrice has opened up about her difficult experience with dyslexia in a rare new clip.
(Made By Dyslexia)The Princess also discussed her own experience with the condition, elaborating on how it affected her as a child.
“I was very lucky, I got to go to a school that was very nurturing and very supportive, but I would describe the actual day to day learning side of things very challenging. You know, I remember we had different coloured books to describe how far your reading levels had got to and I was always on the white books,” she explains in the video.
“My best friends were always on the yellow books or the green books. They were so far ahead. And I think at that stage, those moments of doubt just pop into your head. I’m not good enough, I’m not smart enough. Why am I not like the others?”
Beatrice shared some of the tough realities she faced while experiencing dyslexia.
(Getty)The royal hopes that by sharing her story, changes in education for those suffering from dyslexia will be made in order to better suit their needs.
“I think if I were to say to my younger self, do not be defined by those moments that happened to you in that exam or that classroom because they are lifelong learnings,” she commented.
“They are the lessons that you carry with you and they build you up to be who you are.”
Beatrice also referenced how she deals with the condition to this day, saying that her dyslexia has given her an advantage as she fills her role as Vice President of Partnerships and Strategy at global company Afiniti.
“A lot of my colleagues also have dyslexia because we work in a technology company that is always about thinking differently,” she explained.
“And I think that’s one of the strengths we have as dyslexics is to look at things differently, be a problem solver, find new ways to do things, be experimental, entrepreneurial.”
WATCH: Princess Beatrice speaks from her London home in support of a children’s hospice. Post continues after video…
Her family are fierce advocates for reducing stigma around certain conditions.
Back at her wedding in 2018, sister Princess Eugenie had her wedding dress especially designed to show off her scoliosis scar.
The stunning gown designed by Peter Piloto and Christopher de Vos featured a deep V-shaped back, which clearly showed the mark she received after undergoing surgery for it many years ago.
Princess Eugenie’s wedding dress was famous for showing off a part of Eugenie she so heavily identifies with.
(Getty)Indeed it seems the York sisters are firm in their belief that what doesn’t kill them most certainly makes them stronger.
It’s definitely something worth celebrating, and provides hope to many also suffering similar conditions.
