The Countess of Wessex has recalled the moment her daughter Louise realised that her grandmother is the Queen. The Countess was giving an interview with the BBC's Louise Minchin, when she was asked by the presenter if her children are starting to acknowledge that their granny is a highly important public figure.
"It happened a little while ago," said Sophie laughing. "Well for Louise, actually, it was much more of a shock to the system. It was only when she was coming home from school and saying, 'Mummy, people keep on telling me that grandma is the queen.'
"And I asked her, 'Yes, how does that make you feel? And she said, 'I don't understand.'"
© Photo: Getty ImagesLady Louise came home from school saying: "Mummy, people keep on telling me that grandma is the queen"
Sophie added: "I don't think she had grasped that perhaps there was only one queen."
Naturally like any other parents, Sophie and her husband Prince Edward have tried to give their children as normal an upbringing as possible. The royals have kept their 12-year-old daughter Louise and their eight-year-old son James largely out of the spotlight.
"Certainly when they were very young we tried to keep them out of it," said Sophie. "Only because for their sakes, to grow up as normally as possible we felt was quite important.
"And they're going to have to go out and get a job and earn a living later on in life and if they've had a normal a start in life they possibly can get, then hopefully that will stand them in good stead."
© Photo: Getty ImagesOf her children, Sophie said: "To grow up as normally as possible we felt was quite important"
Louise and James have gradually been making more public appearances. They recently starred in a beautiful portrait released for the Queen's 90th birthday, showing Her Majesty posing with her two youngest grandchildren Louise and James, and her five great-grandchildren.
Princess Charlotte is the newest member of the royal family, having just celebrated her first birthday in May.
Speaking about the photocall, Sophie said: "I don't think any of us knew quite what to expect. Anything could have gone wrong because we had some quite littlies in the picture! But they all behaved fantastically well.
"I think actually the better photograph would have been the one from behind the children looking to all of the adults, trying to get all the children to smile and laugh, to look engaging and everything."
© Photo: Getty Images"They all behaved fantastically well," said Sophie of the "littlies"
The Countess, who was giving the interview in her cycling gear, will take part in a 445 mile cycle ride from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to Buckingham Palace in September.
GALLERY: The Queen's grandchildren and great-grandchildren
She will be showing her support for the Duke of Edinburgh Award's Diamond Challenge – a special initiative marking the 60th anniversary of Prince Philip's scheme.
Admitting that she was very "nervous", Sophie, 51, quipped: "Of course it's downhill because it goes from north to south doesn't it?"
