Earl and Countess of Wessex and Family Current Events 10: November 2018 - March 2023

[Princess Larisa]

Court Circular 20th January:
St. James's Palace

The Earl and Countess of Wessex this evening attended the UK-Africa Investment Summit Reception at Buckingham Palace.

Today is the Anniversary of the Birthday of The Countess of Wessex.

Court Circular 21st January:
St. James's Palace

The Earl of Wessex, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation, this morning attended a Meeting at Marlborough House, London SW1.

His Royal Highness, Trustee, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, this afternoon held a Meeting.

The Countess of Wessex this morning departed from Heathrow Airport, London, for Sierra Leone and was received this evening at Freetown International Airport, Lungi, by the British High Commissioner to the Republic of Sierra Leone (His Excellency Mr. Simon Mustard).

Mr. Alexander Stonor and Mrs. Laura King are in attendance.

Court Circular 22nd January:
St. James's Palace

The Earl of Wessex, Honorary Air Commodore, Royal Air Force Waddington, this afternoon received Air Commodore Thomas Burke upon relinquishing his appointment as Station Commander and Group Captain Steve Kilvington upon assuming the appointment.

The Countess of Wessex today undertook engagements in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Her Royal Highness this morning visited the Sierra Leone Peace Museum, Jomo Kenyatta Road, for a Roundtable Discussion with female members of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces on their experience of the Civil War and subsequent role of women in the Armed Forces in the peace-building and reconciliation.

The Countess of Wessex today attended a Roundtable Discussion with representatives of Sierra Leone civil society on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence during the Civil War given by the British High Commissioner to the Republic of Sierra Leone (His Excellency Mr. Simon Mustard) at the Residence.

Her Royal Highness this afternoon attended a Meeting with His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh (Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone) and Ms. Manty Tarawalli (Minister for Gender and Children's Affairs) at State House.

The Countess of Wessex afterwards attended a Discussion at the Parliament building on women as peace-builders with women in politics in Sierra Leone.

Her Royal Highness this evening attended a Reception given by the British High Commissioner to the Republic of Sierra Leone at the Residence.

The Countess of Wessex later attended a Dinner given by the British High Commissioner to the Republic of Sierra Leone at the Residence.

Court Circular 23rd January:
St. James's Palace

The Countess of Wessex this morning visited Russel Technical Secondary School, Tombo, Western Urban District, Sierra Leone, in support of the Department for International Development.

Her Royal Highness afterwards visited the Department for International Development-funded Tombo Health Clinic, Tombo, Western Urban District.

The Countess of Wessex this afternoon visited Aberdeen Women's Centre, Aberdeen, Freetown.

Her Royal Highness later visited Freetown (King Tom) Commonwealth Cemetery, Hernesey Street, King Tom, Freetown, and laid a wreath.

The Countess of Wessex this evening departed from Freetown International Airport for the United Kingdom.

[Fijiro]

Originally Posted by Claire

I am ecstatically happy that Sophie is getting support for the work she is doing - I just don't hate the horrible comments that all of these are getting. I know I shouldn't read comments and that people who don't follow the Wessex really have never cared about their work at all. But really don't people know that this was never Meghan's trip and that she had nothing to do with this charity or cant the journalist say in the article that Sophie has been involved with the charity for a number of years and has already visited the below countries on their behalf. A little bit of extra journalism is all that is required.

Originally Posted by bertie5252003

Just amazing such an important issue to highlight I only hope that Sophie's really consistent work for her charities will now receive more coverage

The Countess of Wessex has been doing royal engagements for a long time. She has also done tours in the continents of Asia, Europe, and African, but doesn’t get much coverage; this has been the case with her long before Meghan joint the family.
.

[bertie5252003]

.... so what is your point here FIJIRO .... Sophie has never received the attention that she really deserves and yes I am totally and completely aware that she has been supporting charities like this for some time .. so your addressing my statement is agreeing or making another point. With the departure of the Sussexs and believe I am very pleased all that nonsense has gone to other parts Sophie will most likely be relied upon much more for some time.

[Claire]

I am actually concerned about the press wanting Sophie to take on Meghan's role. Yes - she might have to take on more duties, but I don't want Sophie taken apart by the press again? Its not like people are interchangeable.
Any thoughts? maybe we should start a new thread?

[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by Claire

I am actually concerned about the press wanting Sophie to take on Meghan's role. Yes - she might have to take on more duties, but I don't want Sophie taken apart by the press again? Its not like people are interchangeable.
Any thoughts? maybe we should start a new thread?

The press don’t want Sophie to take on Meghan’s role. Meghan was doing less than Sophie has been doing for years.

Sophie has been viewed as “boring” by the press for years, her engagements don’t garner as near enough attention as they should and nothing like Catherine or Meghan’s engagements ever had. Evidenced by this week alone, Meghan is gone, Catherine has been out and about and not one newspaper or royal reporter has covered Sophie’s engagements.

Nothings going to change.

[Claire]

hmm - does seem to be a Daily Express run campaign. Will have to wait and see.

[Alison H]

I think the Express has suggested it largely because there isn't anyone else - it's not like choosing the next England manager where you can give a list of a dozen names and ask everyone to vote for their preferred choice! But the Wessexes seem very happy as they are, and they clearly get on very well with the Queen, and I hope they aren't pushed into radically changing their lives just because Harry and Meghan have jumped ship. Also, the Wessexes' interests are much more traditional.


I don't think the press would turn on Sophie. Those days are long gone. She's very popular now.

[iceflower]

The Earl of Wessex attended the Holocaust Memorial Event at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead, Berkshire today, january 27:



** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **

[Princess Larisa]

Court Circular 27th January:
St. James's Palace

The Earl of Wessex this morning attended a Memorial Event to commemorate the Seventy Fifth Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Altwood Road, Maidenhead, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire (Mr. James Puxley).

[iceflower]

Sophie opened the new Health Sciences Institute at the University of Surrey today, January 29:



** rex gallery **

[eya]

An article for Countess today


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...ed-cancer.html

Yesterday, The Countess of Wessex visited the next generation of young professionals and their mentors at a @dofe Women’s Network Forum event at the London Stock Exchange.


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EPnccM0X...name=4096x4096
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EPnccT9X...name=4096x4096
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EPnccUsW...name=4096x4096
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EPnca57W...name=4096x4096
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EPncbgZX...jpg&name=small

[bertie5252003]

Lovely article and great photos

[Princess Larisa]

Court Circular 29th January:
St. James's Palace

The Countess of Wessex this morning visited the University of Surrey, Stag Hill, Guildford, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey (Mr Michael More-Molyneux).

Her Royal Highness, Honorary President, Linking Environment and Farming, this evening held a Dinner.

[Princess Larisa]

Court Circular 30th January:
St. James's Palace

The Countess of Wessex, Chairman, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Women’s Network Forum, this afternoon visited Next Generation young professionals and their mentors at the London Stock Exchange, 10 Paternoster Square, London EC4.

[Princess Larisa]

Court Circular 4th February:
St James’s Palace

The Earl of Wessex this morning departed from Heathrow Airport, London, for Nigeria and was received this afternoon upon arrival at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, by Ms Harriet Thompson (British Deputy High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria).

His Royal Highness, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, this evening attended a Dinner at the Wheatbaker, 4 Onitolo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Captain Andrew Aspden is in attendance.

The Countess of Wessex, Patron, Disability Initiative, this morning held a Reception.

[iceflower]

Yesterday, February 5, the Earl of Wessex also visited the Children's International School in Lagos to meet with recipients and volunteers of the Intaward in Nigeria, he opened a new school building and presided over a Gold Award Ceremony before attending a dinner:



** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** Pic 5 ** Pic 6 ** Pic 7 ** Pic 8 **

[Claire]

lots of pics - but no article, at least in the British press
If you were Edward and Sophie's - how would you improve their image ? Okay at least at this points - how would you improve Edward's image? More engagements with Sophie?

[O-H Anglophile]

I don’t think Edward’s image needs improving. The press just finds him boring. In many ways, that’s a good thing.

[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by O-H Anglophile

I don’t think Edward’s image needs improving. The press just finds him boring. In many ways, that’s a good thing.

So true and I imagine he’s not boring to the people who matter, the people he’s visiting.

People really need to remember, they’re not Henry and Meghan, nor should they be.

[Alison H]

Back in the day, Prince Edward was seen as a bit of a figure of fun – he dropped out of the Marines before even completing his training, then there was the infamous It’s A Royal Knockout, and then he and Sophie were together for ages before he finally proposed. But, in the end, he was the one who got it right. He and Sophie are still married after over 20 years. He never says or does anything controversial, and he doesn’t have dodgy friends. I think he’s fine as he is. No-one expects him to be dashing and glamorous: he never was, even in his younger days. There's a lot to be said for being boring!