Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Prince Edward began the week with a round of golf and a good laugh!

On Monday 28 June, the Queen’s youngest son was joined by his wife, the Countess of Wessex, for the engagement. Sophie practiced her swing on the golf course, and the pair posed beside a tree they planted during a previous visit in 2019 – now a healthy young sapling. The Cunninghill club said it was ‘delighted’ to host the royal couple, according to local news site thecourier.co.uk.

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The Queen’s youngest son dressed diplomatically in a kilt for his visit to Forfar Golf Club to commemorate the venue’s 150th anniversary, while wife Sophie looked as smart in a flowery midi dress.

The Queen bestowed the Earldom of Forfar on Edward two years ago to commemorate his 55th birthday on March 10, 2019. This implies that if the prince and Sophie visit Scotland, they will be referred to as the Earl and Countess of Forfar. The pair were warmly welcomed back for their return visit this week. Edward wore an unique kilt for the occasion. It’s constructed of Earl of Forfar tartan, which the Strathmore Woollen Company redesigned and named after the prince in 2019.

Sophie looked effortlessly beautiful. The Countess completed the look with grey shoes, swept her hair back, and a touch of beautiful makeup.

CREDIT: TIM ROOKE/SHUTTERSTOCK

The couple’s visit follows the Queen’s resumption of the four-day Holyrood Week, which was canceled last year.

On Monday, Queen Elizabeth was joined by Prince William in Cumbernauld, outside Glasgow, to inaugurate a new facility for stories soda manufacturer A. G. Barr. They proceeded to the royals’ official home at Hollyroodhouse in Edinburgh after William, 39, tasted the famous Scottish soda Irn Bru.

The Duke of Cambridge, known as the Earl of Strathearn in Scotland, was given a drink and asked whether he had tasted it when studying at the University of St Andrews, to which he replied that he had not.

According to the palace, the campaign is part of the Queen’s four-day “[celebration of] Scottish community, innovation and history,” While Prince William is with her on Monday, Princess Anne will be at her side on Wednesday and Thursday.

The visit comes only one month after Prince William and Kate Middleton went on a week-long tour of Scotland in May, branded a royal charm offensive to convince the country to reject nationalist aspirations for independence.

According to a royal biographer, keeping Sophie in the limelight is what Prince Philip “would have wanted” and helps to “keep his memory alive”

Earlier last month, the Countess revealed intimate details of Philip’s May burial to The Telegraph, including the “very poignant” image of the Queen sitting alone on a pew owing to COVID restrictions.

Sophie has been described as the monarch’s “favorite” family member and closest confidante, and she has allegedly been urged by the Queen to fill the void left by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from the UK at the start of 2020.

Ingrid Seward, a royal specialist, previously told The Times: “The Queen is very canny.

“And she has always been very fond of Sophie.

“Prince Philip adored Sophie, and the Queen feels that now is the moment to push her, just gently.

“‘Give some interviews, do some stuff. You work very hard, no one takes any notice. Get out there!’

“I can see her saying that.

“It’s what Prince Philip would have wanted, and now he is gone, doing what he would have wanted keeps his memory alive.

“I think he would have really liked Edward and Sophie to be a bit more high profile.”

She recently elaborated on the “giant-sized hole” Philip’s death has left in the royal family and how they have continued to grieve and support one another despite the distance necessitated by the worldwide pandemic.