Sophie Countess of Wessex

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, has been a strong figure in the British royal family since she married Prince Edward and had a close relationship with the ...

[Markle and Prince Harry](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/meghan-harry-dinner-served-the-menu-revenge) decided to speak poorly of the royal family during their interview with Oprah Winfrey. [Similar to the queen](https://www.foxnews.com/category/world/personalities/queen), Sophie has shied away from the spotlight and has become a bit of a mystery," Schofield said. Schofield believes Sophie could have been a great mentor for Markle for how to handle the negative media attention due to her experience in both the PR world and in the royal family. [question from a British tabloid](https://www.foxnews.com/media) about the interview hints she wasn’t happy with Markle. Being a Windsor wife requires a lot of patience and body armor," Schofield explained. Schofield added that Sophie is a "no-nonsense" individual "but does not lack compassion." They seem to have a deep respect and love for each other. [Sophie, Countess of Wessex](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/sophie-wessex-children-work-living-hrh-titles) is the wife of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, who's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s youngest son. "People were greatly moved by a video of the countess crying after the death of Prince Philip and reassuring mourners that Queen Elizabeth was loved and going to be taken care of. The earl and countess met while working normal jobs and wanted to keep that normalcy after getting married. Despite the initial struggles in winning the public over, the queen seemed to have accepted Sophie into the family with open arms and developed a very close relationship with her throughout the years. The queen considered her a second daughter, and she has become an important part of the Mountbatten-Windsor fold."

Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, have surprised mourners outside Buckingham Palace this afternoon (Saturday, September 17).

A royal insider told the Telegraph in 2010 why Edward chose that name, explaining: “He liked the sound of it and asked the Queen if he could have that instead." The Earl and Countess of Wessex were among those present at Balmoral castle when The Queen died there, aged 96, on September 8. Now that both of these changes have taken place, many are wondering whether or not King Charles will bestow the title on his younger brother and sister-in-law. Meanwhile, the Countess of Wessex stopped to look at one young girl’s T-shirt, which was printed with photos of the Queen through the decades of her reign. Thanking the crowd, The Earl of Wessex told mourners the Queen would “appreciate” the number of people paying their respects. Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, have surprised mourners outside Buckingham Palace this afternoon (Saturday, September 17).

The Countess of Wessex was at Westminster Hall for the vigil by the Queen's eight grandchildren on Saturday.

"And now, we are there for her, united in grief. [Sophie, Countess of Wessex](/latest/sophie-countess-of-wessex) looked grief-stricken as her children took part in a vigil with the late Queen's other grandchildren at her coffin this evening. Louise and James, the youngest two grandchildren, were at the middle of the coffin. The Prince of Wales was at the head of the coffin flanked by his cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Philips. The Earl and Countess of Wessex watched on as Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, guarded their beloved grandmother's coffin with their cousins as she lies in state at Westminster Hall ahead of the funeral on Monday. The Countess of Wessex was at Westminster Hall for the vigil held by the Queen's eight grandchildren on Saturday.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex surprised mourners gathered outside the gates of Buckingham Palace in central London.

[Queen Elizabeth II](https://metro.co.uk/tag/queen-elizabeth-ii/) tag page for the latest updates, and sign Metro.co.uk's [book of condolence to Her Majesty](https://metro.co.uk/queen-elizabeth-ii-dead-tributes-condolence-book/) here. [check our news page](https://metro.co.uk/news/). [](https://metro.co.uk/2022/09/08/queens-health-latest-concerns-royal-family-gather-head-to-balmoral-16453313/) [Find out more »](https://metro.co.uk/news-updates-newsletter/) [toys](https://metro.co.uk/tag/toys/?ico=auto_link_news_P4_LNK1) and paper tributes from well-wishers. [Buckingham Palace](https://metro.co.uk/tag/buckingham-palace/?ico=auto_link_news_P1_LNK1) this afternoon.

The Countess of Wessex was incredibly close with Her Majesty and was often referred to as The Queen's 'second daughter'. Their bond was on full display when ...

[The Queen](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/the-queen) and her younger sister were incredibly close and her death left behind a huge hole for the monarch. [Click here to sign up](https://www.mirror.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/) . Royal Expert Richard Kay wrote: “The Queen and the Countess also share a fascination with military history. [Buckingham Palace](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/buckingham-palace) to Westminster Hall and mounting a vigil around her coffin on two separate occasions. [Princess Margaret](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/princess-margaret) on February 9, 2002, the nation was left in shock - but no one more so than The Queen and The Queen Mother - who died at the age of 101 just seven weeks later. The full name of the honour is the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem and it was constituted in 1888. [The Countess](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/sophie-wessex) has travelled to several countries to raise and spread awareness for these organisations in her role as patron or global ambassador. [Lady Louise Windsor](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/lady-louise-windsor) and [James, Viscount Severn](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/james-viscount-severn). Love the royals? [The Queen's](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/the-queen) 'second daughter' owing to their incredibly close bond. Earlier this year she was granted a very special award by the late Queen which showed the level of respect Her Majesty had for her daughter-in-law. [The Countess of Wessex](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/sophie-wessex) was made a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St John.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex supported their children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, at the vigil for the Queen.

Lady Louise and James also took part in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June. Her younger brother James looked smart in a black suit. [stood vigil over the Queen’s coffin](https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/20220916151361/queen-children-king-charles-princess-anne-prince-andrew-prince-edward-vigil/) with his siblings, King Charles, the Princess Royal and the Duke of York. [Peter Phillips](https://www.hellomagazine.com/tags/peter-phillips/), 44, [Zara Tindall](https://www.hellomagazine.com/tags/zara-tindall/), 41, [Prince William](https://www.hellomagazine.com/tags/prince-william/), 40, [Prince Harry](https://www.hellomagazine.com/tags/prince-harry/), 38, [Princess Beatrice](https://www.hellomagazine.com/tags/princess-beatrice/), 34, and [Princess Eugenie](https://www.hellomagazine.com/tags/princess-eugenie/), 32. [Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie pay tribute to their 'dearest Grannie' ahead of the Queen's funeral](https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/20220917150479/princess-beatrice-princess-eugenie-tribute-the-queen/) [Prince Edward](https://www.hellomagazine.com/tags/prince-edward/) and Sophie, watched the vigil from a viewing platform, and the Countess looked full of emotion and pride.