Sophie, Countess of Wessex appeared to get emotional as she read a book of condolence for the late Queen Elizabeth II during her royal visit to Ethiopia.
Dressed in a smart blazer over a white top, Sophie, 57, collected herself as she looked down at the book and brought a hand to her mouth as she flipped through the pages, at the Residence of the British Ambassador to the east African nation in Addis Ababa.
Sophie, who is the wife of the Queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, has been representing the Royal Family on overseas tours, recently having made royal history as she became the first member of the family to travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
During her trip to Ethiopia, Sophie was joined by Ambassador Dr Alastair McPhail as she looked at the book, whilst sat at a grand wooden desk with a cup of tea on a saucer laid in front of her.
At one point, she appeared to be reading a message from an ambassador, Victor Adeleke, which read: "The world will surely miss you! Mama to His Majesty King Charles.
"He continued: 'On behalf of all members of the Embassy of Nigeria, here in Addis, we say journey well to your Lord. Rest in perfect peace.'"
Sophie is no doubt still mourning the loss of the Queen, with whom she was known to be particularly close.
The Countess forged a lasting relationship with the Monarch, who was said to have thought of Sophie as her "second daughter".
Sophie was often described as Her Majesty's "favourite" relative, with her and Edward's daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, 18, also said to have been the late monarch's favourite grandchild.
Sophie, who also shares son James, Viscount Severn, 14, with Edward, grew even closer to her late mother-in-law last year, following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.
She was said to have often phoned the Queen and was her "rock" throughout such a difficult time.
Royal commentator Duncan Larcombe previously said: “Sophie Wessex has emerged as the Queen’s unlikely ‘rock’ as the monarch adjusts to life without Prince Philip. Prince Edward’s wife has—according to sources—made it her personal mission to ensure Her Majesty is fully supported by the family.
“Since the Duke’s death in April, Sophie has driven the 10 miles from her Bagshot Park home to Windsor Castle every few days and most weekends to spend socially-distanced time with Her Majesty.
"And on days she can’t get there in person, the Duchess of Wessex has made a point of calling her mother-in-law at least once a day," as reported by Vanity Fair.
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