Sophie Wessex wanted ‘bigger role in The Firm’ but was ‘overshadowed by senior royals’ – with Lady Louise Windsor to ‘be next rising star of the family’, royal expert claims
- Sophie Wessex, 55, has stepped into spotlight in the Royal Family this year
- The mother-of-two has been quietly volunteering throughout Covid-19 crisis
- Helped at charity shops, volunteered at food banks and cooked meals for needy
- Royal expert hailed her a ‘rising star’ and now ‘much bigger than Prince Edward’
- Phil Dampier said royal wanted ‘to take on a bigger role but was overshadowed’
- Added her daughter Lady Louise, 17, could follow in footsteps to ‘be a star’
The Countess of Wessex wanted ‘a bigger role in the Royal Family‘ but was ‘overshadowed by senior royals’, according to a royal expert.
Sophie, 55, enjoys a particularly close relationship with her mother-in-law the Queen, 94, and represents the Crown both at home and overseas.
This year has seen the mother-of-two step into the forefront of The Firm’s response to the Covid-19 crisis, with the Countess volunteering at food banks and charity shops to help the needy.
Now royal expert Phil Dampier has said ‘rising star’ Sophie’s ‘time has come’, telling the Express: ‘I think Sophie was always willing to take a bigger role, but she was overshadowed by more senior royals.’
The Countess of Wessex, 55, wanted ‘a bigger role in the Royal Family’ but was ‘overshadowed by senior royals’, royal expert Phil Campier has claimed
He said the Countess now has a higher profile than her husband Prince Edward, with whom she lives at Bagshot Park alongside their two children Lady Louise, 17, and VIscount James, 12.
Phil added that Lady Louise gets ‘a lot of inspiration’ from her mother, and could be the next rising royal star.
Calling the teenager ‘highly intelligent’, he explained: ‘Their daughter Lady Louise could turn out to be a star in her own right and will get a lot of inspiration from her mum.’
Sophie – who is married to the Queen’s youngest son Prince Edward – has been at the forefront of the Royal Family’s response to the global crisis.
Phil added that Lady Louise gets ‘a lot of inspiration’ from her mother, and could be the next rising royal star
Speaking of her volunteering efforts, Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty, who branded her a ‘royal key worker,’ commented: ‘She is making a difference in a very understated, very “Sophie” way.’
Meanwhile Peregrine Armstrong-Jones, of Bentley’s Entertainment, told PEOPLE magazine: ‘There’s no fanfare.
‘These are private visits done in her own private time. When she leaves our kitchens, she generally then goes on to do more projects in different hospitals.’
A friend added: ‘She was brought up by her parents and there was going to be no free ride in her family.
Meanwhile the expert said after taking on more royal responsibility, the Countess now enjoys a higher profile than husband Prince Edward
‘She wasn’t born to be the eldest daughter of a duke and duchess and find a marvelous marriage and polish her tiaras.’
Earlier this year, Phil told FEMAIL Sophie would be a safe pair of hands to take over the responsibilities that can no longer be carried out by Harry, Meghan and Andrew.
He said: ‘She is very close to Her Majesty and is a favourite of hers. Recently she has been on several overseas trips and done fantastically well.
Sophie is particularly close to the Queen, 94, and is said to be ‘a favourite’ of the royal (pictured, together at Buckingham Palace)
‘Now that her children are a bit older I think there could be a great role for her to play. She is 55 today and she is very fit and full of energy.
‘I think she wants to do more and would happily step up to the plate and take over more duties if asked.’
It comes after a year of seismic change for the Royal Family that saw Prince Andrew step back from public duties in the wake of his car crash Jeffrey Epstein TV interview, and the Sussexes’ announcement that they would step back as senior royals.