Countess of Wessex volunteers at St John’s Ambulance hub

The Countess of Wessex organised PPE shipments for ambulance crews and hospital staff across the UK during a visit to St John Ambulance hub today. 

Sophie, 55, who has been at the forefront of the royal family’s response to the crisis, joined the organisation’s Operational Support Hub in Gosport to help out.

The royal, who is Grand President of the charity,  donned a bright green branded t-shirt as she organised new deliveries and packed PPE shipments for hospital staff, specialist cleaners, first aiders and ambulance staff.

It comes days after she was hailed as a ‘royal key worker’ by a royal expert for the volunteering she has been carrying out amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Sophie could be seen chatting to staff at a social distance during the visit, as well as getting stuck in the store room to help sort through personal protective equipment for those on the frontline.

The royal also thanked volunteers who have been working throughout the pandemic at the hub.  

The Royal Family’s official Instagram page went on to share several snaps from Sophie’s visit, posting: ‘The Countess of Wessex, Grand President of St John Ambulance, today visited the charity’s Operational Support Hub to meet and thank volunteers for their work since the COVID-19 outbreak.

‘Volunteers at the Hub have been responsible for distributing clothing and PPE to 32 different St John Ambulance sites in the UK, where the charity is supporting the NHS on the frontline.

As well as thanking volunteers, Sophie joined in efforts to sort and organise personal protective equipment for hospital staff across the UK 

‘The Countess helped to organise these deliveries and PPE shipments to be sent to ambulance crews, specialist cleaners, hospital staff and first aiders. ‬

‘Ahead of #StJohnsDay tomorrow, Her Royal Highness also paid tribute to everyone at the Hub and others working with St John Ambulance, who have contributed over 115,000 hours of voluntary service since the outbreak began.’

The Countess’ volunteering effort comes days after royal experts hailed her for her work during the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking of her volunteering efforts, Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty, who branded her a ‘royal key worker,’ commented: ‘She is making a difference in a very understated, very “Sophie” way.’ 

The royal appeared in high spirits throughout her visit, and could be seen sharing a laugh with fellow volunteers 

It comes as Peregrine Armstrong-Jones, of Bentley’s Entertainment, told PEOPLE magazine: ‘There’s no fanfare.

‘These are private visits done in her own private time. When she leaves our kitchens, she generally then goes on to do more projects in different hospitals.’

A friend added: ‘She was brought up by her parents and there was going to be no free ride in her family.

‘She wasn’t born to be the eldest daughter of a duke and duchess and find a marvelous marriage and polish her tiaras.’ 

The Countess of Wessex, 55, was pictured listening to staff as she met with the team at the Childline and NSPCC headquarters in London

Last week, the royal – who is married to the Queen’s youngest son Prince Edward – was pictured chatting to staff as she met with the team at the Childline and NSPCC headquarters in London, which is a confidential service for under-19s to seek help and support. 

Sophie – mother to Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn – also joined The Saints Foundation last Friday to help pack food and prescription parcels for the vulnerable. 

Sharing the news on Twitter, the Southampton-based charity posted: ‘We were delighted to be joined by HRH The Countess of Wessex this week, who volunteered with us at @FairShareUk and on our Prescription Delivery Service. 

‘A real privilege to show The Royal Family how we are transforming lives in and around Southampton.’

Sophie Wessex has been continuing her volunteering efforts amid the coronavirus pandemic by helping out to pack food and prescription parcels in Southampton

In a video clip shared on the social media channel, Sophie could be seen donning a high-vis jacket and getting stuck into the volunteering effort.  

The visit came days after she opened up about adjusting to life in the royal family, speaking of her ‘frustration’ and admitting it took her a while to ‘find her feet’. 

She told The Times she had to reduce her expectations of what she could actually do and ‘take a really big step back’.

‘I couldn’t turn up at a charity and go, right, I think you should be doing this, because that’s what I was used to doing in my working life,’ she said.  

The Countess has spent the last three months volunteering for a range of worthy causes (pictured, in April making meals for NHS staff)