EDWARD AND SOPHIE RE-EMERGE IN PUBLIC WITH A VISIT TO LISBON

April 30, 2001Apr 30, 2001, 11:00 PM GMT+1

Making their first public appearance together since the 'Sophiegate' upset, the Earl and Countess of Wessex were in Portugal at the weekend for an awards presentation.

Classically clad in Chanel, the Countess was confident and smiling throughout the visit, showing little sign of the strain of recent weeks. After being caught on tape recently making indiscreet remarks about members of the royal family and the Prime Minister’s family, Sophie resigned as head of her PR company R-JH, which she co-founded. She and her husband have maintained a low profile in the aftermath of the scandal.

They were in Lisbon for the Infante D. Henrique Awards, which are similar in concept to the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, designed to encourage moral and physical strength among young people through voluntary work. Prince Edward presented the awards, alongside the Duke of Braganza, at Lisbon’s famous Torre de Belem.

The Wessexes also attended a gala dinner at the Queluz palace.

The Countess was confident and smiling throughout the visit, showing little sign of stress

Sophie resigned as head of her PR company R-JH, after making indiscreet comments to an undercover reporter

Prince Edward was there to present the Infante D. Henrique awards, similar to the Duke of Edinburgh awards in Britain

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