Queen often picks Sophie Wessex as companion while carrying out key duties - 'Fond of her'
QUEEN ELIZABETH II is "particularly fond" of Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and often chooses to be in her daughter-in-law's company while carrying out a key duty, royal experts have said.
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The Queen is particularly close to the wife of her younger son, Prince Edward. The monarch has never openly expressed in public a preference over a specific member of her family - but sources and clues have led many to believe Sophie has become one of the Queen's favourite members of the Royal Family over the past decade.
Emily Nash, royal editor at Hello! magazine, told Town and Country Magazine Her Majesty is "particularly fond of" Sophie.
Victoria Murphy, another royal expert, also noted how the Queen often picks Sophie as her companion to short trips to church on Sundays and Christmas Days.
Whether at Balmoral or Sandringham, Sophie is often seen in the car with her mother-in-law on their way to the chapel.
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Ms Murphy wrote in the magazine: "Indeed, Sophie is often chosen to accompany the monarch by car to church at Sandringham on Christmas morning while other members of the family walk."
Sophie herself has shown her affection for the Queen, openly calling Her Majesty by a lovely nickname during a royal engagement.
Ms Murphy continued: "In a speech at Buckingham Palace in October 2019 to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Trust, she called the Queen 'Mama' and told her she has been 'so proud to share with you the work I have witnessed being carried out'."
READ MORE: Sophie Countess of Wessex branded 'unsung' member of Royal Family
The Queen isn't alone in her affection for the Countess.
During the years, Sophie has been appreciated by royal fans thanks to her work focused on gender equality, her personal commitment to help victims of rape and sexual abuse and her interests in women entrepreneurs.
Ms Nash added: “The Countess is one of the unsung members of the Royal Family and in fact she’s been working on quite gritty subject-matters for a lot longer than many people realise."
In early March, Sophie travelled to South Sudan to raise awareness around the issue of gender-based violence in the region.
During her tour, the Countess visited a wide range of organisations helping to promote women's rights and tackle violence against women.
Sophie's personality and approach to work has also been praised by one of the CEO of an organisation supported by the Countess, 100 Women in Finance.
Amanda Pullinger said: “She actually presents herself as an ordinary person and I think that is increasingly what the royal family needs to do.
“It’s interesting — she’s not nicey nicey.
"Of course she’s polite, but she’ll tell you what she thinks.
"If she disagrees she’ll say, and she’s done it to me a number of times.
"And I think that’s fantastic. I think she’s somebody who’s gained a lot of confidence in this area."
Sophie also uses her experience as a mother of a teenager to interact with young people, Ms Pullinger said.
She continued: “She really is down to earth, gives them incredibly good advice — she’s got a teenage daughter herself.
"She actually asks incredibly smart questions and it really does reflect the fact that she had a professional life before she became a royal.”