Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Says Prince Philip's Death Left a "Giant-Sized Hole" In Her Life

Prince Philip's death in early April shook the royal family, with the loss felt not only among those close to him, but also throughout the UK. Now, as the royals participate in more in-person engagements, the Duke of Edinburgh's absence is palpable. Sophie, Countess of Wessex, recently gave an interview with BBC's Radio 5 Live where she grew emotional, missing her father-in-law.

The Countess of Wessex shared that, in her opinion, the pandemic prolongs grief, as it is in the average, daily activities where the loss is felt most deeply.

She noted, "It's only when you would do the normal things that you would have done with them, and you suddenly realize that they are not there, that you really start to have an 'oh my goodness' moment."

The Countess then began to hold back tears, stating, "Just talking to you now, it's a bit of an 'oh my goodness' moment."

Sophie also shared that this loss is greatly impactful for the entire royal family. When asked how the group is adjusting to life without Prince Philip, the Countess responded, "He's left a giant-sized hole in our lives."

In the same interview, Sophie discussed her increasing participation in royal duties. The Countess—who is married to Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, the Queen's youngest son—is a full-time working royal. In the past year and a half, Sophie has taken on an even larger role in the royal family, after her nephew, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stepped back from their royal duties.

When asked about her more public persona, she replied, "There is increased interest in us as a family but, if it raises more awareness of the issues I care about, then that can only be a good thing."

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