Queen joins Sophie Wessex for World Sight Day video call

Sophie, Countess of Wessex turns 56 today and as well as the usual birthday wishes, the Countess has received a special plug from her mother-in-law Queen Elizabeth II, 94. The Countess provides vital support to the Crown and her valued royal work got a mention from the Queen on her birthday.

Sophie is married to Prince Edward, 56, who is the only one of the Queen and Prince Philip’s children not to have divorced.

The Queen, who is known to value longevity, is said to have a soft spot for Sophie – in part because of her enduring marriage to Edward.

However, Sophie has also gained recognition for the low-key but effective way with which she conducts her royal duties, prompting some experts to dub her the Royal Family’s “secret weapon.”

On Wednesday, the Queen sent a birthday tweet to Sophie via the Royal Family’s official Twitter account.

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The tweet read: “Wishing The Countess of Wessex a very happy birthday today!

“To find out more about Her Royal Highness’s life and work, visit the Royal Family’s website.”

On top of the kind message, the Royal Family account shared a string of tweets promoting one of Sophie’s recent engagements.

The first was included a screenshot of Sophie speaking to the London School of Economics (LSE) Centre for Women, Peace and Security staff during an online webinar.

The tweet read: “Yesterday, The Countess of Wessex joined a @LSE_WPS webinar to discuss her experiences of working within the Women, Peace and Security agenda, alongside peacebuilders @venuwanand @ab_hajibrahim.

“The WPS agenda promotes the meaningful participation of women in peace processes.”

The tweet was followed up with two more, further promoting Sophie’s work to combat violence against women this time in conversation with charity Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.

The first message in the second set of Tweets read: The Countess also caught up with @end_svc Survivor Champions @haoussou and @ntunasi yesterday.

“Her Royal Highness discussed the impact of COVID-19 on the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (PSVI) initiative, and how the pandemic has presented new challenges for survivors.”

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And the third tweet read: “The @FCDOGovUK Survivor Champions were appointed in 2019 and accompanied The Countess on an overseas visit to Kosovo that year.

“@Haoussou and @NTunasi regularly meet survivors, their networks and Government to advocate for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.”

Much of Sophie’s royal work focuses on tackling violence against women in conflict-torn countries and has seen her take several trips abroad.

Last year Sophie became the first Royal Family member to visit South Sudan.

Speaking about her work to tackle sexual violence against women, Sophie previously told the Sunday Times Magazine: “You read your brief, but don’t really know what to expect, then get there and, oh my God, this is just a drop in the ocean, what can I do?

“At my most depressed times I think what’s the point, but then, like today, they ask, ‘Please can we have more torches.’

“Even if I made the tiniest difference … if we can get them torches, encourage the men, then it was worth going.”

Asked if she spoke to the Queen about these trips, Sophie said: “She is interested in my trips, particularly in Commonwealth countries.

“I don’t know how many countries she has visited. Every time I come back from a place she has been there.”

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