Sophie Wessex wanted a bigger role in The Firm

Sophie Wessex wanted a bigger role: Queen Elizabeth II and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, attend a reception to celebrate the work of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust at Buckingham Palace

(Image credit: WPA Pool / Pool Getty)

By Selina Maycock published 30 December 20

Sophie Wessex wanted a 'bigger role in The Firm' it's been claimed by a royal expert.
The Countess of Wessex is said to have been overshadowed by senior royals which meant her work was often overlooked.
In other royal news, Prince Charles gives up beloved home ahead of becoming king

Sophie Wessex is said to have wanted a 'bigger role in The Firm' but was overshadowed by senior royals, according to a royal expert.

The countess of Wessex, who is married to Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, has been hailed a 'rising star' who is set to pave her royal path in 2021.

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."

It comes as the Queen forms a 'New Firm' of eight senior royals, which includes, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Edward, the Countess of Wessex, Princess Anne and the Queen.

The mother of two, to daughter Lady Louise, 17, and son James Viscount Severn, 13, has been quietly volunteering throughout the Coronavirus pandemic but her volunteering could be set to take centre stage in coming months.

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He admitted that he thinks Sophie has a bigger profile than that of her husband Edward, with whom she lives with at their family home at Bagshot Park.

Sophie has been at the forefront of the Royal Family's response to the global crisis, but doing her work in a quiet way, out of the spotlight.

Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty declared the Countess a 'royal key worker,' and added, "She is making a difference in a very understated, very "Sophie" way."

And others have praised her low-key approach.

"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," Peregrine Armstrong-Jones, of Bentley's Entertainment told PEOPLE magazine.

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Meanwhile, Earlier this year, Phil admitted 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 added, "She is very close to Her Majesty and is a favorite of hers. Recently she has been on several overseas trips and done fantastically well. 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."

Selina Maycock

Selina is a Senior Entertainment Writer with more than 14 years of experience in newspapers and magazines. She currently looks after all things Entertainment for GoodtoKnow, Woman&Home and My Imperfect Life.

Before joining Future Publishing, Selina graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2006 with a degree in Journalism. She is fully NCTJ and NCE qualified and has 100wpm shorthand. Having spent the start of her career working on local newspapers and online, Selina spent six years as Acting News Editor and Entertainment Reporter at the Scunthorpe Telegraph where she dug into hard news stories, conducted interviews, covered court reporting, features, and entertainment, whilst going to gigs in her spare time.

Whilst at the paper she was awarded an O2 Media Judges' Special Award for helping a terminally ill cancer sufferer realise his dying wish and marry his childhood sweetheart through a successful newspaper campaign. Things like this are close to her heart when it comes to using journalism to make a positive difference in people's lives.

Selina later branched further into all things celebrity to became a Showbiz Writer at Heat magazine, covering red carpet events, showbiz parties, and various launches before going freelance for two years. One of her biggest celebrity achievements - aside from generating celebrity exclusives - was interviewing Take That (including Robbie Williams) and bumping into Simon Cowell so much at events she told him 'I'm calling you my showbiz dad!'

In 2017 she joined TI Media as a senior reporter on Woman, Woman's Own, Woman&Home, Woman's Weekly celebrity desk before branching online in 2020 when Future gave her the opportunity to focus on digital-first.

When she's not interviewing celebrities you can find her exploring new countryside walking routes, catching up with friends over good food, or making memories.