Editing Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (section)

==Public image and style==
At the start of her relationship with Prince Edward, Sophie was referred to as "the [[girl next door]]", and noted for her successful career and ordinary background.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Guy |title=Why Meghan should follow Sophie, the Countess of Wessex – the outsider who quietly became the Queen's favourite |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/meghan-should-follow-sophie-countess-wessex-an-outsider-quietly/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/meghan-should-follow-sophie-countess-wessex-an-outsider-quietly/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The Telegraph|date=2 August 2018 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> In the early years of her marriage, Sophie faced public scrutiny for her business interests, and was often compared to the late [[Diana, Princess of Wales]], who had died two years earlier.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hinsliff |first1=Gaby |last2=Wazir |first2=Burhan |title=Word by word, Sophie digs herself deeper into trouble |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/apr/08/uk.news |access-date=23 November 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=8 April 2001 |archive-date=18 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118044322/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/apr/08/uk.news |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Sarah |title=Sophie stresses her differences from Diana |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/jun/14/sarahhall |access-date=23 November 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=13 June 1999 |archive-date=1 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701065510/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/jun/14/sarahhall |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Summerskill |first1=Ben |title=Edward and Sophie go on royal duties 'strike' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/aug/19/news.monarchy |access-date=23 November 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=19 August 2001 |archive-date=23 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523203142/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/aug/19/news.monarchy |url-status=live }}</ref> On her transition to becoming a full-time royal, she later stated: "Certainly it took me a while to find my feet. The frustration was I had to reduce my expectations of what I could actually do. I couldn't turn up at a charity and go, right, I think you should be doing this, because that's what I was used to doing in my working life. I had to take a really big step back and go, OK, they want you to be the icing on the cake, the person to come in to thank their volunteers and funders, not necessarily to tell them how to run their communications plan."<ref name="tatler.com">{{cite web |title=How Sophie, Countess of Wessex moved from being a career PR girl to a devoted Royal stalwart |url=https://www.tatler.com/article/sophie-countess-of-wessex-interview-sunday-times-magazine |website=Tatler |date=8 June 2020 |access-date=24 November 2020 |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021220442/https://www.tatler.com/article/sophie-countess-of-wessex-interview-sunday-times-magazine |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sophie has since been cited as an under-the-radar "stabilizing influence" and a "safe pair of hands".<ref name="tatler.com"/> She has been said to have a low-key approach to royal engagements, and often drives herself to and from events.<ref name="townandcountrymag.com">{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=Victoria |title=Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Is the Royal Family's Secret Weapon |url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a32006526/sophie-countess-of-wessex-royal-family-mission/ |website=Town and Country |date=5 April 2020 |access-date=23 November 2020 |archive-date=28 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128011203/https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a32006526/sophie-countess-of-wessex-royal-family-mission/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Amanda Pullinger]] stated to ''[[Town and Country (magazine)|Town and Country]]'', "She actually presents herself as an ordinary person and I think that is increasingly what the royal family needs to do."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Frederika |title=Sophie Wessex nickname: How dedicated royal earned this surprising nickname |url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1284136/sophie-wessex-news-nickname-queen-elizabeth-ii-royal-family |access-date=14 October 2020 |work=Daily Express |date=20 May 2020 |archive-date=19 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019191739/https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1284136/sophie-wessex-news-nickname-queen-elizabeth-ii-royal-family |url-status=live }}</ref> She has also been noted for her long-term work on "gritty" subject matters such as [[gender-based violence]] in conflict, and trips to "difficult areas", such as South Sudan and Sierra Leone.<ref name="townandcountrymag.com"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Can Sophie Wessex reignite the royal flame? |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018755591/can-sophie-wessex-reignite-the-royal-flame |website=Radio NZ |date=19 July 2020 |access-date=23 November 2020 |archive-date=15 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115173437/https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018755591/can-sophie-wessex-reignite-the-royal-flame |url-status=live }}</ref> The Countess's engagements gained significant attention from the public post-[[Megxit]], with her charity work and style choices receiving increased commentary and analysis.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Vanderhoof |first1=Erin |title=Countess Sophie's Trip to the Pub Suggests She'll Be Staying in the Spotlight |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/07/countess-sophie-pub-trip-uk-lockdown |magazine=Vanity Fair |access-date=23 November 2020 |archive-date=25 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025055840/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/07/countess-sophie-pub-trip-uk-lockdown |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McBride |first1=Caitline |title=Sophie of Wessex: who is Queen Elizabeth's 'favourite' royal filling Harry and Meghan's shoes? |url=https://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/celebrity-features/sophie-of-wessex-who-is-queen-elizabeths-favourite-royal-filling-harry-and-meghans-shoes-38888284.html |access-date=23 November 2020 |publisher=Irish Independent |date=26 January 2020 |archive-date=27 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127140612/https://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/celebrity-features/sophie-of-wessex-who-is-queen-elizabeths-favourite-royal-filling-harry-and-meghans-shoes-38888284.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Writer Ingrid Seward states that Sophie "is not a self-publicist....She looks good, without being over-the-top, and she's not craving celebrity. You often wouldn't know she had carried out all those engagements."<ref>{{cite web |first=Georgia |last=Farquharson |title=Sophie Countess of Wessex went from a scandalous past to being a 'royal key worker' – but how could she help Meghan? |url=https://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/royal-news/meghan-markle-sophie-wessex-554698 |website=GoodtoKnow |date=15 August 2020 |access-date=23 November 2020 |archive-date=29 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129113352/https://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/royal-news/meghan-markle-sophie-wessex-554698 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sophie was not initially prominent for her fashion, but eventually began to develop her own style and has worn outfits by many notable designers.<ref name="Tel-style">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/people/sophie-countess-wessex-style-hits-best-fashion-looks/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/people/sophie-countess-wessex-style-hits-best-fashion-looks/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=As Sophie, Countess of Wessex turns 53, look back at her most stylish looks|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=20 January 2018|access-date=12 March 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> She has exclusively worn Jane Taylor [[millinery]] designs since 2009 on numerous occasions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.janetaylorlondon.com/about-jane-taylor|title=About Jane Taylor|publisher=janetaylorlondon.com|access-date=10 May 2018|archive-date=10 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510190056/http://www.janetaylorlondon.com/about-jane-taylor|url-status=live}}</ref> In a ''[[Marie Claire]]'' interview, Taylor described her first royal commission: "My first royal client was the Countess of Wessex, and it was quite nerve-racking. But she wears such lovely clothes and she always looks so fabulous, so it's quite easy to design for her. Since she came to see me, she's never worn any other milliner's hats, which is a big compliment. I was really excited, honored, and slightly nervous."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marieclaire.com/fashion/news/a19751/jane-taylor-interview/|title=Royal Style for Real Girls: Tips from Kate Middleton's Hat Maker Jane Taylor|publisher=marieclaire.com|access-date=13 April 2016|archive-date=14 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414111004/http://www.marieclaire.com/fashion/news/a19751/jane-taylor-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref> Alongside the [[Catherine, Princess of Wales|Princess of Wales]] and the [[Meghan, Duchess of Sussex|Duchess of Sussex]], Sophie has been named one of the most stylish members of the royal family.<ref name="Tel-style"/><ref name="Hello-style">{{cite web|url=https://ca.hellomagazine.com/fashion/02018011941863/sophie-countess-wessex-stylish-moments/1/|title=Sophie, Countess of Wessex's most stylish moments|publisher=Hello!|date=19 January 2018|access-date=12 March 2018|archive-date=13 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313093630/https://ca.hellomagazine.com/fashion/02018011941863/sophie-countess-wessex-stylish-moments/1/|url-status=live}}</ref> Sophie is particularly known for wearing different combinations of hats and coats, and favours silk dresses and frocks.<ref name="Hello-style"/> Describing her style in an interview by ''[[Sunday Express]]'' Sophie said: "It's about my charities, but I recognize that I'm on display. [...] When you walk into a room, yes, people are going to talk about what you're doing there, but they're also going to want to know what you're wearing".<ref name="G-style">{{cite web|url=https://www.glamour.com/story/sophie-countess-of-wessex-style|title=Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Talks About the Real Fashion Pressures of Being a Royal|publisher=Glamour|first=Leah Melby|last=Clinton|date=20 October 2015|access-date=12 March 2018|archive-date=13 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313092903/https://www.glamour.com/story/sophie-countess-of-wessex-style|url-status=live}}</ref> She also revealed that she has never had a stylist of her own and that she makes her fashion choices herself.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://people.com/royals/why-sophie-countess-of-wessex-skips-the-stylist/|title=Why Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Skips the Stylist: 'She Does It All Herself'|magazine=People|first=Monique|last=Jessen|date=6 November 2015|access-date=12 March 2018|archive-date=13 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313092418/http://people.com/royals/why-sophie-countess-of-wessex-skips-the-stylist/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, the Countess was named on ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]''{{'}}s Best Dressed List.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/11938857/Sophie-Countess-of-Wessex-tells-how-she-caved-into-fashion.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/11938857/Sophie-Countess-of-Wessex-tells-how-she-caved-into-fashion.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Sophie, Countess of Wessex tells how she 'caved into fashion'|newspaper=The Telegraph|first=Victoria|last=Ward|date=18 October 2015|access-date=12 March 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Together with the then-[[Catherine, Princess of Wales|Duchess of Cambridge]], Sophie hosted the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange reception at Buckingham Palace during the 2018 [[London Fashion Week]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://people.com/royals/kate-middleton-steps-out-in-black-and-white-for-fashion-event-amid-bafta-dress-code-backlash/|title=Kate Middleton Steps Out in Black-and-White for Fashion Event Amid BAFTA Dress Code Backlash|magazine=People|first=Erin|last=Hill|date=19 February 2018|access-date=12 March 2018|archive-date=13 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313092421/http://people.com/royals/kate-middleton-steps-out-in-black-and-white-for-fashion-event-amid-bafta-dress-code-backlash/|url-status=live}}</ref>