How Sophie, Countess of Wessex, became a royal star

The royal family have had a quiet achiever in their midst who is now set for a much bigger and more prominent role.

Every company needs a good PR and no more so than The Firm. Enter Sophie Wessex.

The Countess of Wessex went from public relations girl to the Queen’s “second daughter” and now, as one of the Windsors’ most valuable assets, is tipped to become the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Over the past week, Sophie touched the world with images of her weeping as she followed the Queen’s coffin and took in floral tributes.

Sophie, 57, had become one of the closest family members to the Queen in her later years, calling Her Majesty “Mama”, after losing her own mother Mary Rhys-Jones in 2005.

It was Sophie who would visit or speak to the monarch every day in Windsor, go riding with her or join her mother-in-law for a dog walk around the estate.

The women had a shared love of military history and enjoyed looking through royal archives together.

Queen Elizabeth II grew close to Sophie, Countess of Wessex in recent years. Picture: Getty

She was also part of the group which immediately travelled to Balmoral, when news of the Queen’s ailing health broke. While Catherine and Meghan stayed at home in Windsor, Sophie was by Prince Edward’s side.

“Sophie has emerged as the Queen’s unlikely rock,” Royal commentator Duncan Larcombe told The Sun.

Over the past few years, Sophie has risen to prominence, quietly taking on more engagements and shouldering more of the work as the Queen aged and Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex left the family.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, will play a bigger role in the royal family. Picture: Getty

Patron of more than 70 charities, she is one of the hardest-working royals, last year conducting a solid 144 engagements, compared to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge’s 119.

Sophie supports youth and disability initiatives and founded The Wessex Youth Trust with Edward in 1999 – a royal trust that has quietly given millions to causes, without any headlines.

She’s not afraid to get stuck in – cycling 445 miles from the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, to Buckingham Palace in 2016, for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Similarly, she is not afraid to champion serious and often overlooked causes, such as campaigning for sexual violence victims in conflict regions, founding the Women’s Network Forum promoting gender equality and promoting charities for the blind, after daughter Lady Louise suffered sight problems as a child.

The Countess of Wessex overcome early challenges to become a major player in the royal family. Picture: Getty

The key to Sophie’s popularity is her no-nonsense approach. And such is Sophie’s increasing star power, it is believed she and Edward will take on the titles of Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

It was Prince Philip’s wish and would cement the couple’s position in the new court.

Certainly, the new King needs senior royals around him, his vision for a slimmed-down monarchy shaken by the loss of Harry and Meghan.

His need to redistribute many of his 400 plus patronages and the hundreds more inherited by the Queen is so pressing he mentioned it in his first speech.

“It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply,” he said.

“But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others”.

One of those others, insiders say, is Sophie.

“I think it’s possible that King Charles will have the Earl and Countess of Wessex step into the role that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were supposed to have,” deputy editor of Royal Central Brittani Barger said.

“They are very well-liked and hardworking. Sophie, in particular, has a quiet and kind demeanour which serves her well,” Ms Barger said.

“I think we may see her out more and take on some of The Queen’s old patronages”.

Queen Elizabeth II and Sophie, Countess of Wessex attend the second day of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse in 2016. Picture: Getty

But while Edward and Sophie have a seat at the main table, it was not always so and when they were first married, like Harry and Meghan, they also ran the gauntlet of an unsympathetic press.

Initially trying to combine royal duties with their own careers, in the way the Sussexes later proposed, Sophie continued to work in PR and Edward unsuccessfully in television.

In 2001 Edward’s TV crew turned up at St Andrew’s University despite a press ban on coverage of Prince William, who was studying there.

Charles was furious.

The same year, Sophie, was caught in a newspaper ‘sting’ being indiscreet about members of the Royal Family and politicians. It was the last time she would be.

Apologising unreservedly, “after discussions with the Queen,” Sophie gave up her PR job and concentrated on her royal role and on bringing up their two children – Louise, 18 and James, Viscount Severn, 14.

“We try to bring them up with the understanding that they are very likely to have to work for a living,” Sophie previously told The Sunday Times.

“Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles. They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but it’s highly unlikely,” she said.

Sophie, the only real commoner the Queen truly embraced pre-Catherine, is a hands-on mum, keen for her children to have as normal an upbringing as possible, at their home of Bagshot Park, near Windsor.

Her popularity only seems to grow – even including her style.

She enlisted the help of stylist Pandora Delevingne, mother of model Cara, who now dresses her in an array of classy, yet sensible, outfits by brand including Suzannah London and Emilia Wickstead.

The decision to award Edward and Sophie the titles of Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh lies with the King, but if he does, it will serve as both a nod to the close bond Sophie had with the last Duchess of Edinburgh – the Queen – and a salute to the future.

Originally published as How Sophie, Countess of Wessex, became a royal star