Sophie, Countess of Wessex has opened up about the impacts of menopause on women in a refreshingly candid new appearance.
The 56-year-old royal joined a roundtable discussion with the charity Wellbeing of Women, for which she is a royal patron, and spoke to the “tragic” affects menopause can have on working women.
The conversation centred on the charity’s ‘Menopause Workplace Pledge’ campaign, which calls for more support for women dealing with meopause in the workplace.
Speaking candidly, Sophie said: “Women having to leave the workplace because of the menopause is tragic.
“We are fabulous in our 40s, and we are even more fabulous in our 50s, 60s and 70s and we need to celebrate that and keep opportunities going for women.”
Sophie, Countess of Wessex got candid about menopause.
(Getty)Her inspiring words have been echoed by women around the world in recent years, as discussions around women’s health and menopause become more open.
Sadly, the affects of menopause and lack of workplace support can still make it difficult for women in their 40s and older to continue working through their menopause.
The Countess of Wessex went on to say: “Together, we can support the thousands of women out there who form the backbone of our workforce.
“We cannot let anyone leave the workplace, feeling that they have got to slope off into the shadows. We have to be able to change that.”
This isn’t the first time Sophie has spoken candidly about women’s health, as the topic is close to the royal’s heart.
As well as being royal patron for Wellbeing of Women, Sophie supports a number of charities and organisations that support women’s causes.
She previously spoke about the importance of being open and honest about women’s health to reduce lingering stigma around the topic.
“I’ve always found out when we talk about women’s’ health, actually, it’s actually preceded by talking about women’s problems or issues, which immediately puts it into a negative light,” she said earlier this year.
“The menstrual cycle, periods, the menopause, having babies … you know, we all talk about having babies, but nobody talks about periods, nobody talks about the menopause, why not?” she continued.
Sophie is passionate about women’s health and changing the stigma around it.
(Getty)“It’s something that happens to us 12 times a year. It’s something that’s incredibly normal, but it’s something that is hidden. And I think it’s time to say ‘Enough, we need to bring this out onto the table and say, let’s talk about this.'”
Sophie has been in the spotlight more often over the last 18 months, following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal exit in 2020.
After they stepped down as senior royals, other members of the monarchy appeared to take on more duties to fill the space, including Sophie.
