The Countess of Wessex cooed over babies
as she joined mums at a new hub in Woking that provides support for families.
Sophie, 57, who is mum to Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and James, Viscount Severn, 14,
opened the new Jigsaw Hub at The Lighthouse in
Surrey on Thursday.
The Lighthouse hosts a range of projects aiming to support, encourage
and empower marginalized and vulnerable members of society through offering
training and providing care packages and food.
The Countess met volunteers and local people supported by The Lighthouse
and saw how their new hub is supporting the community by offering free
clothing, equipment and toys for local children, families escaping domestic
abuse and refugee families in the area.
Hands-on royal Sophie previously volunteered at their food bank during
the pandemic so it’s an organization that is well-known to her.
And Sophie couldn’t resist having cuddles with this little one.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex resumed their royal duties this week
after enjoying a half-term ski break with their children in the Swiss resort of
St Moritz.
On Thursday, Buckingham Palace also announced an overseas spring tour
for Prince Edward and Sophie to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year.
The Wessexs will visit Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, and
St Vincent and the Grenadines from 22 to 28 April.
Jigsaw began 16 years ago, when a group of young mums noticed how
quickly their children were growing out of perfectly good clothes and toys, and
they were inspired and moved to help others who might need items for their
children too.
In 2006, the organization began putting on meetings once a month in
Old Woking, where they would put out donated toys and clothes for those in
need.
Jigsaw moved to the YPod in Woking town before finding its forever home
in The Lighthouse in 2014.
The Countess looked elegant in a floaty brown top and petrol blue
high-waist trousers for her engagement.
She accessorized with a pair of simple diamond-shaped earrings and
styled her blonde locks in loose waves.
