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Sophie Countess of Wessex joined the Royal Family upon her marriage to Prince Edward in 1999. She is patron to more than 70 charities and is reportedly one of the Queen’s favourite Royal Family members. But what exactly is she like to work with?

Sophie has been hailed for her “down to earth” attitude since becoming a working member of the Royal Family.

Prince Edward’s wife has also been praised for her work throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

This week she issued a heartfelt message of condolence following the explosion in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Tuesday evening.

Sophie was the first royal to undertake an official trip to the country in June 2019.

Sophie and Edward spent the duration of lockdown at their home Bagshot Park in Surrey.

During the lockdown, the Countess of Wessex was seen undertaking several engagements including attending a Women’s Institute meeting at a pub in Surrey and engaging in several video call meetings.

She has been praised for being a hardworking member of the Royal Family, for instance, in 2019 alone, she carried out 236 official engagements.

In June, Sophie gave a rare interview to The Sunday Times, in which she spoke about her transition from a career in PR to full-time working royal.

When asked about her workload increasing in the wake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s exit from the Royal Family, she explained everyone had their own duties.

She told the Sunday Times; “We’ve all got our own little portfolios. I don’t see anything changing, but if we’re asked to do more … I don’t know because it hasn’t really happened.”

Royal photographer Tim Rooke spoke to Hello! Magazine about what it is like to work with the Countess of Wessex.

Mr Rooke has worked with her during several royal engagements and attended many tours with her.

He was present for one of Edward and Sophie’s’ last public visits to Essex in March before the coronavirus lockdown was imposed.

He told the publication: “It’s always more relaxed covering the Earl and the Countess than it is covering other members of the royal family because there are fewer people around and you’re sort of part of the party.

“It’s very different than going with 60 or 70 members of the media.”

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In particular, Mr Rooke said Sophie is a hugely professional member of the Royal Family and will always work to ensure photographers are able to get photographs of her during royal engagements.

He said: “The Countess is incredibly professional, and she realises that it’s extremely important to have her work covered.

“She’s always aware of us, if you haven’t quite got a picture, she’ll go out of her way to make sure you get it.”

He added she is extremely grounded and has seen the Countess of Wessex become emotional during engagements, where she has been truly touched by the proceedings and people she meets.

One such incident happened in 2014 when Sophie visited Frimley Park Hospital to open the Neonatal ward.

Mr Rooke said: “The Countess went to Frimley Park hospital to open the new Neonatal ward and she’s actually crying as she hugs the midwife who was in charge when she was in the hospital.”

This visit was particularly moving for Sophie given her own daughter Lady Louise Windsor was born prematurely and delivered by emergency caesarean in November 2003.

Sophie has also been praised for her hardworking attitude and commitment to public service.

This was proven when the Countess of Wessex recently cycled 445 miles from Edinburgh to Buckingham Palace to raise funds for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

In fact, many royal experts have said Sophie’s professionalism, strong work ethic and calmness under pressure have endeared the Queen to her.

A former royal equerry told Fabulous Digital: “If Sophie Wessex is staying at Sandringham then you can pretty much guarantee the Queen will ask her – usually last thing on a Saturday night – if she would like ‘a lift’ to the church.

“And the same happens at Balmoral.

“The Queen likes to be completely calm before church and she finds Sophie’s presence soothing.

“Who gets the backseat is also one of those quirky royal ways that signals who is in favour – for example Princess Anne may be staying at the same time, but how often do you see her in the Rolls?”

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