Sophie Wessex’s kind gesture to support Queen after Prince Philip’s death revealed
The Countess of Wessex made a special effort to support the Queen at Windsor after her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, passed away


Sophie Wessex made a very special effort to support the Queen following the death of Prince Philip, according to a royal correspondent.
- Sophie Wessex made a kind gesture to support the Queen in the aftermath of Prince Philip's death, according to a royal insider.
- The Countess of Wessex became Her Majesty's 'favorite' Royal Family member in 2021, after proving herself as a reliable 'sounding board' for the monarch's honest thoughts.
- In other royal news, Prince Harry delays possible reconciliation with William and Kate and is set to 'make things worse'.
Sophie Wessex showed her support for the Queen after her husband's death with a sweet gesture, a royal insider has revealed.
Prince Philip died aged 99 in April 2021, leaving Her Majesty widowed after 73 years of marriage. In the months following this devastating loss, the 96-year-old found solace in a high-profile female royal - and no, it wasn't Kate Middleton.
Sophie Wessex, the wife of the youngest of Queen Elizabeth's children, Prince Edward, reportedly played a key role in helping the monarch cope with the tremendous grief. According to royal expert Duncan Larcombe, the Countess would "drive the 10 miles from her Bagshot Park home to Windsor Castle every few days and most weekends to spend socially-distanced time” with her regal mother-in-law. When she wasn't able to make the journey, she would apparently "make a point" to ring the Queen so the two could catch up on the day's events. The thoughtful gestures have made the two women, who were already understood to be close, an even stronger unit.
Sophie quickly became "the Queen’s unlikely ‘rock’", offering a source of comfort during one of the hardest years of Her Majesty's life.
It also helped that the Countess, 57, was able to provide a safe ear for the Queen to discuss "certain decisions about the monarchy." The royal in-law, who is the mother of Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, was also the monarch's "go-to for various personal matters," according to a palace insider. With a reputation for being "impartial", Sophie was apparently viewed as a solid "sounding board" on which the Queen could vent her thoughts safely.
"Sophie has been a firm favorite of the Queen for some time,” royal expert Phil Dampier told Royals Monthly in June.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.
Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.
-
Ruth Langsford's bold cricket jumper is convincing me to wear yellow long after Easter is over
Her knitwear is an easy way to work the butter yellow trend into your wardrobe
By Caroline Parr
-
I've bought this M&S hidden support vest in three colours - it's comfy, smoothing and perfect for summer
For just £12, this everyday base layer comes with plenty of benefits
By Matilda Stanley
-
Forget-me-not blue is the pastel Duchess Sophie always comes back to - it might've overtaken pistachio as our favourite this season
The royals love wearing a range of colours for engagements and visits, but there are a few hues that each of them gravitate towards the most.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Don't let white jeans daunt you - Duchess Sophie's recent outfit shows they're just as versatile as blue denim
Blue jeans are a wardrobe must-have for so many of us but white denim has a reputation for being a lot more challenging to style.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Duchess Sophie’s added a dainty Missoma bracelet to her jewellery box and we're buying the exact same
Duchess Sophie wore one bracelet on repeat during her visit to Nepal and this stunning Missoma design is in our basket.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Kate Middleton and Duchess Sophie prove that buying items you love in multiple colours can really pay off
They've shown that having your favourite pieces in several shades can be so handy if they're true to your signature style
By Emma Shacklock
-
Duchess Sophie means business in powder blue power suit and reminds us tailoring can be fun as well as sophisticated
If you always thought tailoring was a little too corporate you might re-consider after seeing Duchess Sophie's fabulous pastel co-ord
By Emma Shacklock
-
Snake print wedges with lemon-drop-yellow? Duchess Sophie just showed us how it's done
The Duchess of Edinburgh has brought back one of her favourite dresses for the first time in 2025 and styled it with snake print shoes
By Emma Shacklock
-
Duchess Sophie's soothing sage walls and cream cabinets in Bagshot Park kitchen create a sense of calm cosiness
The Duchess of Edinburgh's royal kitchen is a calming space with soft green and cream tones and she once shared a glimpse of it
By Emma Shacklock
-
Duchess Sophie brings royal style to New York with chocolate brown blazer and pink satin shirt
The Duchess of Edinburgh was the epitome of smart sophistication in New York in her tailored blazer and contrasting shirt
By Emma Shacklock