Sophie, Countess of Wessex: A Modern Royal Who Should Not Be Overlooked

Dressed in a simple yet elegant knee-length frock and with her hair neatly tucked in a low chignon, Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, carried out a series of royal engagements in Qatar with effortless grace.

From meeting with the deputy emir to reading books with schoolchildren, and even sharing a joke with doctors at a local medical center, the 52-year-old wife of Prince Edward appeared to breeze through her busy day in her typically fuss-free fashion.

While many high-profile royals attract pomp and ceremony, Sophie has carried out at least 29 engagements since the start of October, just a handful fewer than William and Harry, without any of the glamour or attention.

She is a model modern royal, and one from whom others might learn.

Unlike other more glamorous royals, Sophie does her own hair, sometimes drives herself to official engagements, and even makes her own pre-engagement notes without the traditional help of a lady-in-waiting.

She favors a low-key yet elegant ensemble, with her hair neatly tied around the nap of her neck, as if to stop any fidgeting that might distract from the task at hand.

On her feet are a pair of shoes, nearly always with a sensible low heel.

It is perhaps of little wonder then that Sophie is so beloved of her mother-in-law, the Queen, and is considered by the monarch to be a safe pair of hands.

Indeed, a royal aide said last year that the Queen treated Sophie more like her own child; she is like another daughter to Her Majesty.

They share an interest in military history, but the Queen is also impressed with her daughter-in-law’s determination to do things right and, crucially, the former businesswoman’s touch of independence.

Sophie also demonstrates the same fierce work ethic as Her Majesty.

In the last month alone, she has criss-crossed the globe on a string of royal and charity engagements, both with and without her husband.

Currently, she is in the midst of a visit to the Middle East, where she is carrying out work in her role as patron of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, one of the dozens of charities she supports.

Sophie enjoys a close and hands-on relationship with her two children, Lady Louise Windsor, 14, and James Viscount Severn, 9, who are known for being impeccably well-behaved.

Similarly, Sophie appears equally at ease whether she is meeting foreign dignitaries or disadvantaged children, offering everyone she comes across the same warm smile and easy grace.

There has been a clear style evolution in the last 18 years since she married Prince Edward.

Back then, Sophie stuck to an underwhelming mix of corporate wear, fitting for only the most frumpy of Sloanes.

Box-y noose-raider jackets, big shoulder pads that dwarfed her frame, with occasional forays into pastel fussiness and sequins, were the order of the day.

Now, she showcases an understated yet confident style, picking clothes to emphasize her nipped-in waist.

She loves Amelia Wickstead, the young New Zealand-born Londoner who specializes in Grace Kelly-esque ladylike dressing, Roland Morrit, the Frenchman who knows how to flatter every inch of a woman’s body, and Erdem, who is also beloved by Michelle Obama.

However, she looks just as comfortable in a pair of trusted riding boots and a simple blazer or donning military slacks, as she did during a visit to Brunei last month.

Sophie is one of the royal family’s greatest assets, one who perhaps is too often overlooked.

Her dedication to her duties, her fierce work ethic, and her touch of independence make her a model modern royal.

She is a safe pair of hands, beloved by the Queen and admired by many.