Sophie’s grief upon grief: Tearful Countess of Wessex mourns the Queen whom she called ‘mama’ – 17 years on from the death of her own mother and after bidding an emotional farewell to Duke of Edinburgh last year

• Countess of Wessex, 57, was very close to her mother-in-law the Queen 
• Lost own mother Mary Rhys-Jones in 2005, aged 71, when Lady Louise was two
• She was also deeply distraught by the death of Duke of Edinburgh last year  
• Full coverage: Click here to see all our coverage of the Queen’s passing

Sophie Wessex was visibly upset today as she stepped out of Balmoral for the first time since it was announced the Queen has died. 

Prince Edward’s wife, 57, was very close to her mother-in-law, and was known as one of her closest confidantes.  

Her Majesty’s daughter-in-law was often been noted as the monarch’s ‘favourite’ family member after she married Prince Edward.

Sophie formed  close bond with the royal family after losing her own mother, Mary Rhys-Jones, to stomach cancer in 2005 aged 71, when her daughter Lady Louise Windsor was only two. 

She was also extremely distraught following the death of the Duke Edinburgh, and became the Queen’s ‘rock’ following his funeral. 

Prince Edward’s 57, was very close to her mother-in-law, and was known as one of her closest confidantes

She was also extremely distraught following the death of the Duke Edinburgh in 2021 after broke down in tears at his mention during an interview with the BBC last year 

Sophie has spoken openly about her grief before, having previously spoken of a tragic miscarriage she suffered in 2001. 

Meanwhile in 2005, Sophie lost her mother. The Countess opened up about her mother’s death last year during a speech for Women’s Institute members at their annual meeting in June 2021. 

She said of her other that she missed ‘her very much and there are moments where I hear some music she loved or I do something I know she’d have wanted to hear about, which make her early departure very hard.

“She has missed out on so much, and I’m particularly sad that she hasn’t seen my children grow up or seen how my work has grown and developed,’ she added. 

Sophie suffered a miscarriage as a result of an ectopic pregnancy in 2001. Here she is pictured in 2005

The Countess of Wessex grew close to the Queen after losing her own mother, Mary Rhys-Jones, pictured in pink, to stomach cancer in August 2005 (pictured on her wedding say in 1999)

‘She would have loved that I am talking to you today,’ she added. 

At the time of Mrs Rhys-Jones death, a statement from Buckingham Palace said: ‘The countess was very close to her mother and this is a very sad time.

‘She is being comforted by her husband but she is deeply saddened.’

After her mother’s passing, Sophie grew close to the Queen, whom she was heard calling ‘mama’ on occasion, including at a Diamond Jubilee Trust event at Buckingham Palace in 2019.

In recent years, former aides have previously described the Queen’s relationship with Sophie as ‘like mother and daughter’, adding: ‘There is a great deal of love and mutual respect between them.’

Sophie and The Queen enjoyed a privileged relationship, and the Countess of Wessex was often described as the Monarch’s favourite daughter-in-law (pictured at Royal Ascot in 2019) 

Sophie became the Monarch’s ‘rock’ following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh in 2021. Pictured at his funeral in Windsor on 17 April of that year)

And in 2021, a tearful Countess described the queen as ‘amazing’ as she and her husband Prince Edward comforted Her Majesty at Windsor Castle following the death of her husband Prince Philip.

Sophie’s determination also saw her take on full-time royal duties, and embrace rural pursuits beloved by the royals, such as riding, fishing, shooting game and carriage driving.

In recent years, she has been a rock for the Queen. Speaking in 2021, one friend said: ‘Sophie set herself a series of tasks. She learned how to ride properly and now rides with the Queen at least once a week.

‘She took up carriage-driving to be close to Philip,’ they added. 

Earlier today, she was seen looking through floral tributes the late monarch with Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice 

Prince Edward and Sophie were the first to visit the grieving Monarch after the Duke of Edinburgh’s death, and as they left the castle Sophie was visibly upset. 

At the time, she was described as one of a group of four who were providing support for the monarch.

‘Sophie is like another daughter to the Queen, they are that close,’ said a Royal source. ‘She is trusted and relied on like few others.’

And speaking in June last year, royal expert Duncan Larcombe told The Sun: ‘Sophie has emerged as the Queen’s unlikely “rock” as the monarch adjusts to life without Prince Philip.’

‘Prince Edward’s wife has – according to sources – made it her personal mission to ensure Her Majesty is fully supported by the family.

‘Since the Duke’s death in April, Sophie has driven the 10 miles from her Bagshot Park home to Windsor Castle every few days and most weekends to spend socially-distanced time with Her Majesty.’

Sophie was seen holding hands with her daughter Lady Louise in Balmoral earlier this afternoon 

For the days she couldn’t make it to see the Queen in person, the Countess ‘made a point of calling her mother-in-law at least once a day’.

Sophie looked very sombre on Thursday when she arrived at Balmoral alongside the Duke of Cambridge and Cornwall, Duke of York and Earl of Wessex.

Sophie also went through a traumatic ectopic pregnancy in 2001 which resulted in a tragic miscarriage. 

The Countess broke down in tears as she opened up about the death of Prince Philip during an emotional BBC interview.

In the interview, recorded in 2021, the interview Sophie grew increasingly tearful while talking about the Duke of Edinburgh, who she was close to.

She spoke candidly about the photograph she took of the Queen and her father-in-law in Scotland in 2003.

She said: ‘We were lucky enough to go to Scotland for half term and I don’t know if you remember the photograph I took?

‘It was… yes… I was pregnant with Louise at the time and we went up there during half term.’

The Royal was forced to pause as she struggled to hold back the tears as Ms Munchetty asked: ‘Are you okay?’

She continued: ‘And just to be there, in that place… was an oh my god moment. So I think they’ll come and go. But you have to let them come and let them go.

‘But just talking to you now it’s a bit of an oh my goodness moment which you don’t necessarily expect and you don’t expect them to come.

‘I had the same when I lost my mother. You know I’d be fine, absolutely fine fine fine, then something happened or you’d hear a piece of music or you’d do something then suddenly you would, you know, get taken off at the knees.

‘So there will be lots of moments like that but it’s good to remember.’

Sophie was struck by tragedy early on in her marriage to Prince Edward, when she suffered a miscarriage as the result of an ectopic pregnancy in 2001. 

Prince Edward addressed the press as his wife recovered in hospital at the time, saying: ‘It’s obviously a very traumatic time and my wife has… It’s quite the most painful thing anyone can undergo.

‘It’s a pretty traumatic experience. As the pain reduces, so the relief will increase. I want to add my thanks to all the medical team who have done a fantastic job and reacted so quickly and have handled things so professionally,’ he added. 

Sophie and Prince Edward went on to welcome their daughter Lady Louise Windsor, who is now 18, in 2003, and their son James Viscount Severn, 14, in 2007.

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