They are known to be close, but with social distancing measures preventing face-to-face meetings, like many of us the Queen had to rely on technology to pass on birthday greetings to her daughter-in-law the Countess of Wessex. The monarch (with Sophie, below, at Royal Ascot in non-Covid times) was among the first to wish Sophie “a very happy birthday” as she celebrated turning 56 at home with her husband the Earl and their children Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn.