Queen's Favourite: Tracing Sophie Wessex's Bond With 'Mama' Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth, the longest-living monarch in England, passed away on September 8 at 96 years of age. The Queen is survived by her four children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Recently, when The Royal Family was seen acknowledging floral tributes made to the late Queen at Balmoral, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, seemed emotional while sitting beside the tributes and messages that lay for her mother-in-law.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, was often referred to as the queen's favourite over the years given her special bond with the queen. Also famously known as Sophie Wessex, the countess joined her husband Prince Edward and his siblings Princess Anne and Prince Andrew during the tributes’ acknowledgement.

Suggested reading: Princess Anne Makes History Participating In Vigil For Her Late Mother Queen Elizabeth II

Who is Sophie Wessex?

Sophie married Queen Elizabeth's youngest son, Edward, in 1999 at St. George's Chapel. Edward held the title of the Earl of Wessex at the time. Edward and Sophie, who became the Count and Countess of Wessex in the following years, lived only a few minutes away from Windsor Castle, where the Queen resided.

The bond that Sophie Wessex and the Queen shared was visible to all. Several people and tabloids referred to her as the Queen's favourite. Their bond deepened as the two women became close confidantes over time and supported one another during personal tragedies. When Sophie Wessex lost her mother, Mary Rhys-Jones, to stomach cancer in 2005, the Queen stepped in to provide her emotional support. The Countess started calling her mother-n-law 'mama' post her mother's demise.

In a conversation with a British tabloid, author Christina Lamb shared her experience of meeting Sophie in person for an interview and explained why the Countess shared a close bond with the Queen. Lamb claimed that Queen and her daughter-in-law became friends after spending long hours looking through ancient documents together in the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle. She further revealed how, post the demise of Prince Philip, Sophie accompanied the Queen for regular walks at the Windsor Great Park thus proving to be a great emotional support. Lamb also shared how Sophie was grateful to the Queen for guiding her throughout her duties as a Royal.

On Monday evening, the Queen's four children gathered at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh for an emotional vigil of the Queen's coffin. They were joined by their respective spouses.