Sorrow of Sophie
Close to tears, countess who was a ‘second daughter’ to Her Majesty
LOST in thought, Sophie Wessex could not disguise her sadness as she studied the many tributes left to the Queen outside Balmoral.
The wife of the late monarch’s youngest son, Edward, she had a close bond with the Queen, who treated her like a second daughter.
On several occasions during a walkabout with other royals on Saturday, the red- eyed Countess of Wessex appeared close to tears as she read cards and toured the sea of flowers.
At one point she crouched down, clutching a tissue to her face, before walking back to the castle hand in hand with her 18-year-old daughter, Lady Louise Windsor.
Sophie, 57, reportedly became close to the Queen and Prince Philip following the 2005 death of her mother, Mary Rhys- Jones, from cancer aged 71.
She learned how to ride, took up carriage driving and immersed herself in other country pursuits loved by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.
Last year, in a BBC interview, the mother of two became visibly upset as she spoke movingly about the death of the duke and how the ‘amazing’ Queen had coped in the aftermath.
Sophie became the Queen’s ‘rock’, visiting her regularly and speaking to her on the phone daily to help her adjust to life without her spouse, sources said.
The Queen invited Sophie to attend church services with her and they were said to enjoy watching old movies together.
One source said Sophie had been ‘a tremendous source of comfort to the Queen’.
They added: ‘ Sophie cherishes her relationship with the Queen and not only appreciates her guidance and wisdom throughout her own life, she is very protective of her. Their bond is very like a mother and daughter and the feeling of love and respect is mutual. It is very special.’
The Queen’s granddaughters Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall were also moved to tears on Saturday as they made their way back to Balmoral after a private service at nearby Crathie Kirk to remember their beloved mother and grandmother. Also greeting the crowds were Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Peter Phillips, Princess Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence.