As we’ve discussed, the Countess of Wessex is doing the most to publicly exert pressure on King Charles III to elevate her status and cement her place as a “senior royal.” It’s not even about Prince Edward at this point, although I’m sure he’s pleased that Sophie is the one pushing for Charles to hand over the Duke of Edinburgh title. But Sophie isn’t just looking for titles and a commitment to be “important” to the new king. She’s also looking to take over several of Queen Elizabeth II’s patronages.
The Countess of Wessex is tipped to get a host of the Queen’s most-valued royal patronages as acknowledgement for being her ‘confidante.’ The Royal, who had a close bond with the late monarch, referred to her as ‘Mama.’ Sophie, 57, works tirelessly as patron of more than 70 charities and organisations and has been praised for her dedication to duty within the royal family. Royal sources told the Mirror that she could take over patronages including the Women’s Institute and Dog’s Trust.
One said: ‘The Queen and the countess had a fantastically warm and joyful relationship. Her Majesty admired Sophie’s quiet sense of duty, her strong work ethic and the way she balanced her public and family lives. They also shared many of the same interests.’
The source added that the Queen’s decision to pass the patronages on to Sophie is a reflection of their bond. And they said that Sophie’s popularity with the public has become clear. It is likely that under the reign of King Charles she will take on a larger public profile.
The Countess of Wessex and the Queen were brought closer by the death of Sophie’s mother in 2005 and Prince Philip last year. In the midst of the media attention attracted by Harry and Meghan, the source claimed that Sophie’s common sense was ‘welcomed’ by the Queen. The source also said that the Countess of Wessex could see that the royal revelations made the Queen upset and that she had become angry about them herself.
However, the source said that Sophie is kind and was unsurprised to see Meghan in the same car with her this week as they mourned Her Majesty’s death.
This is coming across as incredibly pushy by Sophie, right? None of this is coming from Buckingham Palace or King Charles’s court. This is coming from Sophie – she’s telling everyone that QEII “wanted” her to have all of these patronages and how much QEII adored her. Honestly, wouldn’t it look kind of bad if some of the larger patronages – like the Women’s Institute – didn’t go to Queen Camilla or the new Princess of Wales? I realize Kate is too lazy to do anything, but it feels like Camilla and Kate will get their “first pick” at all of QEII’s patronages and select the biggest and most prestigious for themselves. By that I mean, Kate will take a few of the museums, Camilla will be pushed into some of the biggest, and then Anne will get her choice… and then it will be Sophie’s turn.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.
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- Queen Elizabeth II (centre), the Countess of Wessex (left) and Princess Alexandra during a reception to celebrate the patronages of the Princess, in the year of her 80th birthday, at Buckingham Palace, London.,Image: 509280586, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 04: Sophie, Countess of Wessex as Queen Elizabeth II presents the Centenary Women’s Institute ‘baton’ at the Centenary Annual Meeting of The National Federation Of Women’s Institute at Royal Albert Hall at the Royal Albert Hall on June 4, 2015 in London, England.,Image: 524553804, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Florida: +1 239 689 1883 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 04: Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Princess Anne, Princess Royal and Queen Elizabeth II attend the Centenary Annual Meeting of The National Federation Of Women’s Institute at Royal Albert Hall at the Royal Albert Hall on June 4, 2015 in London, England.,Image: 524553845, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Florida: +1 239 689 1883 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 10: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Andrew, Duke of York attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 10, 2018 in London, England. The Queen and members of the Royal Family are attending the annual Festival of Remembrance to commemorate all those who have lost their lives in conflicts and will mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.,Image: 534600424, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR SEVEN DAYS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
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- The Queen, accompanied by the Countess of Wessex, attends a reception to celebrate the work of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust at Buckingham Palace in London.,Image: 540458588, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR SEVEN DAYS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
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- The Countess of Wessex speaks to a member of the estate staff ahead of the Sunday service at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, Windsor, following the announcement on Friday April 9, of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh at the age of 99. Picture date: Sunday April 11, 2021. Prince Philip, was the longest-serving consort in British history.,Image: 604743192, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex at Trooping The Colour – The Queen’s Birthday Parade, London, UK – 02 Jun 2022,Image: 696318445, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock / Avalon
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- London, UNITED KINGDOM – Public at the Memorial Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey in London, UK. Pictured: Prince Edward, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, James, Viscount Severn, Louise Moun BACKGRID USA 29 MARCH 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- North America Rights Only – London, UK -20220329- Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey -PICTURED: Sophie Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, James Viscount Severn -PHOTO by: PA Images/INSTARimages.com Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing
If KC really wants to have a smaller RF, he needs to cull a lot of patronages. QE and Phil couldn’t have been doing much for the patronages they had, so how is having a royal patron of benefit to any of them? And why would they want to move from having TQ as patron to having a low level RF member? If KC has to give up controversial causes, why wouldn’t he take on some of TQ’s stuff? And they were angry that H&M made revelations but not angry about any of the nasty, racist stuff said about them?
The “slimmed down monarchy” promise was first brandished about in the early 90s, and after seeing how many things slipped through the cracks of the supposedly military-precise Operation London Bridge, I don’t think the firm actually ever considered *how* they would slim down the monarchy and what that would look like. Like, there was never a plan for it other than saying it offhand whenever someone made a stink about how much the royals cost the British taxpayers. It’s completely undefined – is it fewer royals, same funding, or is it same number of royals, less funding, or is it fewer royals, less funding? Because based on last year’s budget report it’s been fewer royals, more funding, which is actually hilarious (unless you’re a British taxpayer).
From what I recall reading in the past, the funding doesn’t change, it just goes to less people. Feels like a cash grab for the remaining royalty, definitely didn’t save the government any money.
This site covered research done some time ago that showed a royal patron basically does not benefit a charity at all, something I don’t think we talk about enough. So honestly none of this really matters.
I think this is very likely. Kate and Bill are epically lazy. I’m sure they will push off all of the patronages to anyone else as long as they are being done in the most boring, obsequious manner that never ever ever outshines them. Brits are not going to get much excitement or star power for their $100 m annual investment. The Rota are going to be extremely unhappy.
Agree. And if only it were just $100m a year. When you factor in security and other costs on top of the Sovereign Grant the estimate is over £300m.
It’s not like the racket is a hard job for the royals, it’s not like it’s demanding. There are those who want the monarchy gone, obviously, and Kate and William are doing their work for those anti-monarchists by never, ever working. You are right; they won’t do any additional work now, either.
I mean I’m sure Sophie will get a lot of the patronages, but she won’t get first pick. Kate will probably choose the most prestigious ones and then do nothing with them for the next 25 years.
This is about money and keeping their slice of the Duchy of Lancaster pie. They do have a legitimate beef—they were forced to give up their, admittedly embarrassing, but lucrative work to be full-time royals. They do their share and it seems awfully mean to try to turf them out now. It’s clear that CIII will bow to public pressure, but the Wessexes just don’t have the kind of press following to pull this off.
This is a very good point. Ugh to the family business aspect of all of this. You give a couple of people within a family immense power over immense wealth and let the games begin. It certainly could turn a functional family dysfunctional. And make a dysfunctional family a real mess.
She won’t get the first pick, but the patronages the Queen knew she really wants, are the ones she’s probably gonna get. Nothing to blindside or slap anybody in the face
Wow. She just doesn’t learn, does she?
Sophie, stop trying to make fetch happen. It’s not going to happen.
These people are just terrible. The Queen’s not in the ground yet and they’re campaigning for patronages and positions.
Well, it’s not like the situation is going to improve any, might as well lobby now.
Though since Charles probably hates them, it probably won’t do any good.
While I do believe that the Countess really loved and got along well with QEII I think she has been too much in the public with all this. Actually since Prince Phillip died and her behavior towards The Sussex’s that last church visit before they fled for their lives was gross. She seems like such a ‘pick me’ and I just cannot with her.
If they don’t have patronages, they have a harder time justifying their existence/income.
Shouldn’t dispensation of ‘royal patronages’ be at the king’s discretion?
Having said that I am totally uninterested.
Pushy or not, Sophie has always done a lot more of the basic royal work/charity grind than Kate, and any patronage would be better off in her hands than Kate’s.
I wonder how the car ride was with Meghan ,seemed icy..not that i expected them to be cackling away but she is definitely an ally to the Keens. She is in for a surprise.
I was wondering this too!
Dropping Meghan in at the end of that story was creepy. First, we learn that poor Sophie had to help QE through Sussexit. Then we get this patronizing thought: “Sophie is kind and was unsurprised to see Meghan in the same car with her this week as they mourned Her Majesty’s death.”
Meghan outranks Sophie who is only a countess. Meghan is the one who was being gracious. And we all remember Sophie freezing Meghan out on Commonwealth Day.
I see Sophie is eager to rewrite press history of her poor treatment of M&H as being misguided because of how it (eye roll) made the queen upset, rather than because she’s the same sort of cruel creature as the rest of the family. Not sure being “unsurprised” is that much of a gracious step up though. Yeesh these people can’t even pretend to be kind.
It’s the same old story though where the RF is upset that H&M defended themselves, but never is there mention of any of them defending H&M or being upset that the BM lied about and attacked H&M. If it were either of my grandmothers, there focus would be on what the media was doing to me.
For heaven’s sake, how many confidants did the Queen have?
💯🤣, and favourite children and grandchildren!
Sophie who? (stolen from her never to be forgotten, and very rude, ‘Oprah who?’)
What is the point of a ryal patron? do they bring in any money, i think there was a report a few years ago that there is no cost benefit. Sophie needs to find a way to bring in some money for her family, because maybe they get a few charities with charles then what happens when william takes over? i hope the queen leave them some money enough for them to live on when things go south. this model of living is not sustainable. If Andrews life is anything to go buy they need to find another way. which is what Harry is trying to do which he is getting raked over the coals for, and he is young enoug to start from scratch. in a few years Sophie should be looking forward to retirement
For many of them the inheritance won’t be enough. Doesn’t matter how much it is because they will have their hands out asking for more in just a few years.
I think it’s quite possible that Sophie will be given many of the late Queen’s patronages. Anne and Camilla both have a lot of their own and Kate does nothing so Sophie will be the only left to take them. She will do more for the organisations that Kate ever would.
Sophie was a bitch to Meghan before the interview. The commonwealth service was way before the interview. So sophie can miss me with her she was upset on the queen behalf but then she is oh so kind she sat in a car with Meghan. Bitch please, you sat there pushing your entire body forward because you know where Meghan is the camera will stalk her and you wanted a don’t forget about meeee moment and was trying to use Meg to get it .
💯💥💥💥
She’s just angling to stay on the gravy train. I think she’s the one who keeps pushing for Louise to become a working royal too, which is ridiculous really when you consider how far down the succession she is.
I misread the headline and thought it said “privileges” instead of “patronages.” Still works, though 😀
Seriously, though, this is what royalty is. This is what they do, what they’ve always done. The entire history of the British monarchy has been about flexing and scrambling for power among each other and and sticking it to whomever is lowest in the pecking order. They don’t have to fight actual wars anymore, or do any actual ruling or governing, so they’ve elevated fighting each other into high art because they have nothing else to do that actually matters.
The whole patronage/“service” thing is a bone they grudgingly tossed the public early in the last century so they didn’t get booted out like a lot of other monarchies did at the time. As others have mentioned, it’s a whole lot of ego-stoking for the royals with virtually no actual benefit (there are very few exceptions, but overall, it’s pointless). Just get rid of all of them except for the handful that are actually helpful and meaningful. That would be a great way to start winding down the whole thing.
I get that there are a lot of complexities around getting rid of it altogether, so my dream is the thousand cuts approach – fade stuff like this out, start from the bottom up, and make them irrelevant (in the practical sense, not just the “they’re irrelevant in general” sense).
To me, she has 2 facial expressions – fake, predatory/overly triumphant grin and puckered lemon face.
The most amazing thing about the past 11 days is the BRF could not restrain their arrogance at all during this “period of mourning”. All of the f*ckery has been beyond illuminating. If this is how they behave when they are supposed to be focused on mourning the queen and being respectful, imagine how awful they are going to be once the official period of mourning is over.
“It is on my bucket list to meet the Countess of Wessex”….
Said literally no one ever.
“It is on my bucket list to meet Harry and Meghan”
Said a whole lotta people on both sides of the pond whether they care to admit it or not.
That’s all you really need to know.
I was watching CNN international recap. They noted all the royal ladies wearing jewelry given to them by the queen. Keen, Meghan and Charlotte. Sophie was right there in the picture of the ladies and they completely blanked her. It was like there was just some random passerby who was in the picture.
Sophie might get a lot of the queens patronages. They will be a lot of work and one’s no one else wants to take. That’s how the firm works Sophie Who.
I finally figured out what was unsettling me about Louise, Sophie’s daughter. She looks like she belongs to the late Victorian and the Edwardian era. There’s something about her that feels of the past and not modern. Oh well….back to the general commentary about these royal vultures fighting over the leavings.
The Recluse, I think all that is her styling and the fact that her clothes do not “fit” her because they are her mother’s hand-me-downs from her own era. No doubt Sophie WAS born during the Victorian or Edwardian era, so Louise is catching that vibe (lol). Also, she doesn’t try to be pin thin like some other royals, so that can hearken back to an earlier age. I hope when she goes to uni she gets out from under her mother’s thumb and hangs out with other girls, talks and shops with them, etc. It’s like she’s trapped like a house elf (for lack of a better simile) because she’s in this little retrograde bubble. The girls needs freedom, friends and the modern world.