Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II’s youngest son, has been married to Sophie, Countess of Wessex for more than two decades, and Sophie has seen many highs and lows with the royal family during that time. In a way that few others have, the countess has personally assisted the queen following some tragic losses.
Continue reading to learn how Sophie filled a huge void in the monarch’s life.
Sophie is reportedly Queen Elizabeth’s favorite in-law
The Countess of Wessex has long been considered the queen’s favorite in-law, not just her favorite daughter-in-law. One of the reasons, according to the Daily Mail, is that they share many of the same interests, such as a fascination with and appreciation for history. “Sophie loves listening to the queen talk about great historical events, and the two are sometimes gone for hours, poring over ancient documents in the Royal Archives, which are kept at Windsor Castle,” according to the publication.
According to royal biographer Robert Jobson, “[the countess] is probably the best example of an outsider coming into the family and learning on the job.” “She’s very much the queen’s favorite.”
The Countess of Wessex helped fill a ‘terrible gap’ during a very hard time for the queen
Sophie is said to be treated by the queen more like a daughter than a daughter-in-law.
A senior royal aide told The Sun, “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.” “They are so close that she is like another daughter to Her Majesty.” Sophie has even addressed the queen as “Mama,” according to Cosmopolitan.
During a reception at Buckingham Palace in 2019, Sophie said, “Mama, when I returned from my travels, I have been so proud to share with you the work I have witnessed being carried out under the umbrella of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust and the care of so many people working so hard to save and cure sight.”
Not only that, but following the deaths of the monarch’s mother and only sister within weeks of each other, Prince Edward’s wife has become a confidante of the queen. “She speaks to Sophie in the same way she used to speak to Princess Margaret,” a source told The Sun. “When her sister and the Queen Mother died in 2002, Sophie filled a terrible void in the queen’s life.”
Sophie became her mother-in-law’s rock after another loss as well
On April 9, 2021, Queen Elizabeth suffered yet another great loss when her 73-year-old husband, Prince Philip, died.
Sophie was reportedly a “tremendous source of comfort” to her mother-in-law. She was also one of the first members of the Duke of Edinburgh’s family to speak to the press about his death. The countess spoke about Prince Philip’s final moments after a special service honoring her father-in-law at Windsor’s Royal Chapel of All Saints on April 11. “It was the perfect fit for him. She described it as “so gentle” (per Page Six). “It was as if someone grabbed his hand and whisked him away. “All you want for someone is peace, and that’s all you get.”
“I believe it is so much easier for the person who goes than for the people who are left behind,” she continued. We’re all sitting here, staring at each other, thinking, “This is terrible.” However, take a look at all of the tributes. It’s incredible,” says the narrator.
