Sophie Wessex 'confident' in 'high-status' role as she replaces Meghan Markle - expert

She said the Countess was clearly committed to her responsibilities, explaining: “Sophie appeared to be taking her duties very seriously here, looking unusually serious despite her eye-catching outfit.”

According to Judi, Sophie’s “eye-catching” statement hat demonstrated the Countess’s new-found confidence.

The expert said: “Sophie is normally rather reserved in terms of her fashion choices, wearing styles that define a lower-rank royal rather than top-tier, but this plum coloured hat and the designer, stone-coloured coat looked eye-catching and extremely royal in terms of dominating attention rather than avoiding it.”