Prince Philip: Sophie Wessex on 'hole' Duke left in royals' lives

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Sophie, Countess of Wessex, 56, and Prince Edward, 57, have raised their children Lady Louise Windsor, 17, and James, Viscount Severn, 13, outside the royal limelight. Nonetheless, the Countess recently revealed she is teaching them awareness around sexual violence in warfare – one of the many issues she advocates for as a senior royal.

The Countess has taken on a more prominent role within the Firm since Meghan Markle, 39, and Prince Harry’s, 36, departure. In a wide-ranging interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, she recently spoke about raising awareness around sexual violence as a weapon of war and how she has candid conversations with her teenage children on the topic.

Sophie is said to be the Queen’s favourite daughter-in-law and has often represented the crown on trips abroad to politically unstable nations, including to South Sudan.

Touching on her work to highlight the issue of sexual violence in conflict zones, Sophie said: “I think being an advocate for these women, where these women don’t have a voice – being a voice for them.

“Making sure the subject doesn’t drop off the agenda.”

The Countess revealed how she had discussed the matter with her daughter Lady Louise and son James, and said she was “impressed” by their awareness on the matter.

She said: “My daughter, she’s 17 and she’s very aware of this kind of thing… we chat about it quite a lot and particularly if I’ve been on a trip somewhere, she wants to know where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing.

She added: “I think it’s about having honest, open conversations as a family, but also hopefully in school settings as well.”

Sophie said it was “slightly harder” to have the conversation with her son James who is at the age where he is “more aware of girls around him”.

She added: “Interestingly, he’s quite conscious of this whole issue of inappropriate behaviour between girls and boys.

“I think that’s partly to do with schools and partly what they chat about on social media.”

The Countess also revealed her wish for Louise to be able to keep her life private despite being a member of the Royal Family.

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Sophie added: “I hope that she and her friends will protect her from anything that somebody might want to do.”

“But I have to let her live her life. It’s not mine to live.”

Louise is currently studying for her AS-Levels and Sophie has previously expressed her wish for her to attend university.

While Louise and James have been raised without their HRH styles and Princess and Prince titles they will be able to choose whether on not to use them when they turn 18.

Louise was close to her late grandfather Prince Philip taught her carriage driving – one of his great passions.

The royal teenager impressed fans in the wake of the Duke’s death by attending several outings alongside her parents.

While Louise appears to be comfortable in the public eye she is 15th in line to the throne and unlikely to take on a more senior role in future.

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