Sophie, Countess of Wessex

Sophie, Countess of Wessex

Sophie, Countess of Wessex has been officially confirmed as vice-patron of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Trust.

The 50-year-old royal will now deputise for the Queen as vice-patron of the charitable foundation, which was created to mark the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty's reign.

Sophie - who is married to the Queen's son, Prince Edward - is said to enjoy a close relationship with the monarch, who often visits her and her children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, at her home at Bagshot park.

The blonde beauty's appointment as vice-patron came as she was celebrating her landmark 50th birthday with a number of royal duties including attending a demonstration of the Avoidable Blindness Programme, which is supported by the trust.

The Countess is said to be a keen supporter of eradicating avoidable blindness and is also patron of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight and is a global ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.

However, it was not all work for the Earl and Countess of Wessex as Sophie was later presented with a cake decorated with gold candles and the message, 'Happy Birthday HRH Sophie' by a group of well wishers.

Forgetting her healthy diet for the afternoon, the mother-of-two cut large slices of the sweet treat for herself and a number of fans to indulge on.

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