At the age of 71 and very much set in her ways, Princess Anne wasn’t exactly in the market for new friends.
But sources say that’s what she’s found in her sister-in-law, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, after the women began spending more time together as they supported the Queen following her husband’s death.
Princess Anne and Sophie, Countess of Wessex are said to be closer than ever.
(Getty)“Sophie and Anne never spent much time together, but since Prince Philip died they’ve seen each other nearly every day,” says a source.
“Friendship has blossomed between them over the past few months, and they’re really enjoying their time together.”
Sophie, 56, has proved such a hit as she’s joined the ranks of core royals this year that she’s won over famously prickly Anne, to the point she’s been invited to join the Princess Royal on official engagements.
The women attended the Westmorland County Show last week, where onlookers commented on “how warm things were between them”.
One online commenter said they were “loving the horse girl energy between Anne and Sophie”.
The women attended the Westmorland County Show last week.
(Getty)Woman’s Day is told they’ve spent “plenty of time offline together, too – usually at Anne’s stables”.
“They realised they had a lot more in common than they thought,” says our source.
“They go riding together and love a catch-up over a picnic or a cheeky cocktail after a day in the saddle.
“It’s all very relaxed and simple.”
“The Queen is thrilled Anne has a woman in the family she’s close to after growing up with three brothers and never truly seeing eye to eye with Diana, Camilla or Fergie.”
