Inside Queen Elizabeth and Sophie, Countess of Wessex’s Surprisingly Close Relationship
Queen Elizabeth would never publicly blab about her true feelings to the public — she’s spent her entire reign sharing her life with royal followers yet remaining mostly unknowable, at least on personal matters. Still, Her Majesty can’t keep everything under wraps. Insiders are quite convinced they’ve figured out who one of the queen’s favorite people is.
No, it’s not Prince Philip, Princess Anne, or even her little twin Princess Charlotte — though she is quite fond of them, too. Queen Elizabeth is believed to be quite partial toward Sophie, Countess of Wessex, her youngest son Prince Edward’s wife of more than 20 years.
Queen Elizabeth respects Sophie’s work ethic
Like most human beings, the queen notices and appreciates her most treasured traits in others. Sophie is a lot like herself in that she’s a rules follower who respects traditions and customs, does her job with diligence, and never complains or causes trouble. In those ways she’s the complete opposite from so many of Queen Elizabeth’s children and relations.
Sophie learned the ropes from her husband, who is yet another royal who doesn’t cause much drama. “Edward has molded into a quiet and efficient figure who does not seek attention or acquire headlines,” a source told Express. “He and Sophie are liked for being dutiful and uncomplaining,” they continued.
The queen sees Sophie as ‘another daughter’ and close enough to confide in
It’s not just Sophie’s manner of conducting herself — it’s also her loyalty over the years plus her personality that makes Queen Elizabeth such a big fan. “She is trusted and relied on by the Queen in a way I couldn’t say applied to the Duchess of Cambridge or the Duchess of Cornwall,” a royal aide told Daily Mail.
The went on further, comparing Sophie’s relationship with Her Majesty to that of a blood relative. “[Sophie] is like another daughter to Her Majesty, they are that close,” they continued. “She talks to Sophie in the way she used to talk to Princess Margaret. Sophie has filled a terrible gap in the queen’s life that was left when her sister and Queen Mother died in 2002.”
Plus, the queen and Sophie have a shared interest in history and have bonded while “pouring over ancient documents” together.
Prince Edward and Sophie may fill the role Prince Harry and Meghan Markle vacated
With the Duke and Duchess of Sussex temporarily retired and pursuing a life that’s free from royal constraints, there’s a noticeable gap in the royal family responsibilities that Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge won’t be able to fill alone. Royal insiders believe Edward and Sophie might be the key to ensuring the future of the royal family’s good reputation.
“Her work does not regularly receive the kind of media attention that the younger royals command, but Sophie, now 55, has become a stalwart member of the firm,” Town & Country reported. “…The Wessexes are two of just a handful of full-time working royals. And the spotlight on Sophie has intensified in the vacuum left as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle step back.”
Of course, having the queen’s love and devotion certainly helps Sophie’s case for a more prominent role. It’ll be fascinating to watch how her position evolves in the months and years to come.
