Editing Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (section)

===Jewellery gifts===
The Countess of Wessex was criticised for accepting two sets of jewels from the [[Al Khalifa family|royal family]] of Bahrain during an official day-long<ref name="BBC 7.1.2012">{{cite news | author=Staff writer | title=Countess of Wessex's Bahrain jewel gift criticised | date=7 January 2012 | publisher=BBC | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16452634 | access-date=9 January 2012 | authorlink=Staff writer | archive-date=7 January 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107192337/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16452634 | url-status=live }}</ref> visit to the country in December 2011, as she and her husband returned to the UK from a trip to Afghanistan. She was given one set by [[Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa|Bahrain's king]] and a second set by the country's prime minister, Sheikh [[Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa]]. Her husband, the Earl, received a pen and a watch as well as a silk rug from the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Sheikh [[Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa]], who also gave Sophie a silver and pearl cup. The value of the jewellery has not been estimated and its precise contents were not disclosed.<ref name="Tele 6.1.2012">{{cite news | first=Andy | last=Bloxham | title=Countess of Wessex criticised for accepting jewels from Bahrain | date=6 January 2012 | work=The Telegraph | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/8999280/Countess-of-Wessex-criticised-for-accepting-jewels-from-Bahrain.html | access-date=9 January 2012 | url-access=subscription | location=London | archive-date=9 January 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109033216/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/8999280/Countess-of-Wessex-criticised-for-accepting-jewels-from-Bahrain.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Given concern about human rights abuses in Bahrain, this gift attracted controversy, with calls for the jewels to be sold, and the proceeds used for the benefit of the [[Economy of Bahrain|Bahraini people]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/8999872/How-a-routine-royal-visit-spelt-trouble-for-the-Countess-of-Wessex.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/8999872/How-a-routine-royal-visit-spelt-trouble-for-the-Countess-of-Wessex.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | location=London | work=The Telegraph | first=Patrick | last=Sawer | title=How a routine royal visit spelt trouble for the Countess of Wessex | date=8 January 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Critics said the Countess should sell the gems and give the proceeds to [[Bahraini protests of 2011|political protesters]] in Bahrain. [[Denis MacShane]], then a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) and previously a Foreign Office minister, said: "Given the appalling suffering and repression of the Bahraini people, it would be a fitting gesture for the Countess of Wessex to auction these trinkets and distribute the proceeds to the victims of the regime."<ref name="Tele 6.1.2012"/>

Royal family guidelines and procedures relating to gifts, published by the government in 2003, state that "before accepting any gift, careful consideration should always be given, wherever practicable, to the donor, the reason for and occasion of the gift and the nature of the gift itself&nbsp;... Equally, before declining the offer of a gift, careful consideration should be given to any offence that might be caused by such action."<ref name="BBC 7.1.2012"/>