‘Favourite’ Sophie Countess of Wessex joins the Queen at a reception tonight

Sophie greeted her mother-in-law with the nickname “Mama”, which demonstrates their close relationship.

She made a passionate speech in which she discussed the trust’s work?

Sophie said: “Mama, when I have returned from my travels I have been so proud to share with you the work I have witnessed being carried out under the umbrella of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust and the care of so many people working so hard to save and cure sight.

“Each time you have listened with interest and been eager to hear of how the work is going, and each time I have been stunned as you have shared with me your deep knowledge of each of these countries, not top level observations, but personal experience, demonstrating to me time and again the real affection you have for all people of the Commonwealth and why that affection is so abundantly returned by them to you.”

READ MORE: Sophie, Countess of Wessex banned this from her wedding day 

Is Sophie Countess of Wessex the Queen’s favourite? 

She is rumoured to have the closest relationship with the Queen since she married her youngest son Edward in 1999.

Body language expert Judi James told Express.co.uk: “She is also said to be the daughter-in-law that the Queen gets on the best with.

“Shots of the two women together show them looking like friends, with Sophie adopting some relaxed, confident and down-to-earth body language when she is with her mother-in-law.

“After seeing her other children’s marriages end in disaster, the closeness could be seen as a sign that the Queen might well have sensed Sophie was good for her youngest Edward.”