Royal biographer and expert Robert Jobson previously told the Telegraph: “[The Countess] is probably the best example of an outsider coming into the family and learning on the job.
“She’s very much the Queen’s favourite, and you’ll notice that whenever there is a family holiday or gathering, Sophie and Edward often stay a while longer than the rest.”
Another key sign the Queen has a soft spot for Sophie is that they share the car ride to church together whenever the Countess stays at Sandringham.
A former royal equerry told the Sun: “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.”
