One source previously spoke out to reveal how the queen felt “completely calm” in Sophie’s presence thanks to her “soothing presence”. The source also revealed how Sophie is the Queen’s favourite carshare when in Sandringham. A formal royal equerry said: “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.”
The car sharing routine is undoubtedly a subtle pointer to the place Sophie occupies as the monarch’s favourite daughter-in-law.
Not only does the Queen relish in Sophie’s company, she is also viewed as the Royal Family’s safest pair of hands.
One source has spoken out to say the Queen trusts Sophie much more than she could ever trust the Duchess of Cambridge, or Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
A senior royal aide said: “She is trusted and relied on by the Queen in a way I couldn’t say applied to the Duchess of Cambridge or the Duchess of Cornwall.
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“She is like another daughter to Her Majesty – they are that close.
“The Queen is also mindful that Sophie’s marriage has survived where her other children’s relationships have failed.”
The source is referring to Prince Charles and Princess Diana, who divorced in 1996, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, who were also divorced in 1996, and Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, who called it quits in 1992.
The source continued: “And she knows that is in no small way down to Sophie’s dedication.
“She is aware, as his, Edward’s mother, what a tricky creature he can be.
“And not only has Sophie flourished as a dedicated, albeit still relatively junior member of the Royal Family, she has brought up two teenagers who are well balanced, sporty, amusing and delightful.”
The Wessex’s daughter, 15-year-old Lady Louise Windsor, is reportedly one of the Queen’s favourite grandchildren.
Lady Louise and her younger brother, James, Viscount Severn, proved most welcome guests this summer at Balmoral, mainly due to the way they enthusiastically took part in a host of activities in the Highlands retreat.
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A royal insider said: “The Queen loves the fact that Louise and James relish their time at Balmoral, and she has become particularly close to Louise, who seems to have become her favourite grandchild, closely followed by James.
“Louise also endeared herself to everyone by looking after William and Kate’s children when they were up here.
“Because of her obvious artistic skill, the Queen allowed Louise to look through some of the collection of Queen Victoria’s Highland sketches, which are kept at Balmoral but rarely dug out these days.”
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward previously told the Sun that the Queen likes “ordinary people more than she does those that pander to her”.
James, Viscount Severn, is said to have also delighted his grandmother with his keenness for catching wild salmon in the River Dee.
The source continued: “His enthusiasm for fly fishing delighted Her Majesty because it’s a sport beloved of James’s great-granny, the late Queen Mother.
“James was in the Dee as often as possible, waders up to his armpits. His mother Sophie, who is a keen fisherwoman herself, liked to stand with him.
“Edward is not as keen because he’s not as patient, which you need to be when fishing for salmon, even in the plentiful Dee.”
