Countess of Wessex bottle feeds a calf on visit to a dairy farm

Farm hand Sophie! Countess of Wessex helps out by bottle-feeding a calf on visit to a dairy farm to hear about the problems facing the sector

  • Countess of Wessex, 58, swapped elegant formal dress for a coat and wellies
  • She visited a dairy farm in Gloucestershire in her role as farming charity patron 
  • READ MORE: Birthday blue! Sophie Wessex given a card during hospital tour

The Countess of Wessex swapped her ever elegant formal dress for a more rustic look this week, as she visited and helped out at a dairy farm in Gloucestershire.

Sophie, 58, even got stuck in feeding a young calf milk during her visit to Smerrill Dairy, Cirencester.

Despite her attire being more pastoral than usual, the royal looked radiant as she met with farmers to discuss the difficulties faced by the dairy sector.

As patron of The Addington Fund, a charity which helps struggling farmers, Her Royal Highness spoke to some of its beneficiaries who own farms across the county.

 The Countess of Wessex looked typically radiant as she visited a dairy farm in Gloucestershire on Tuesday – even if her outfit was more rustic than usual

Sophie, 58, even got stuck in feeding a young calf milk during her visit to Smerrill Dairy

For over 20 years the charity has supported farmers and their families in times of crisis.

The Countess clearly took a keen interest as she spoke to farmers and representatives from the charity.

Her farm appropriate outfit included a Barbour-style forest green jacket and, of course, a pair of sturdy wellies.

She kept warm with a navy zip-up thermal layer under which she wore a matching dark blue turtleneck jumper. 

Smart dark green trousers completed the outfit, which was perfect for touring a busy working farm. 

Sophie’s blonde locks were swept out of her face as she got stuck in, feeding one adorable calf with a large carton of milk.

She was also shown the farm machinery, tractors and around the stalls were the cows were feeding. 

Smerill Farm is located on the Bathurst Estate, and the Earl and Countess of Bathurst welcomed Sophie warmly.

The royal met with Earl and Countess Bathurst (second and third from left) as well as farmers

The Countess clearly took a keen interest as she spoke to farmers and representatives from the Addington Fund

The Countess was shown the farm machinery, tractors and around the stalls were the cows were feeding

Students from the Royal Agricultural University were also in attendance, and were said to have enjoyed the event. 

Taking to Twitter, Countess Bathurst wrote: ‘We had a very special visitor today in Gloucestershire. 

‘HRH The Countess of Wessex travelled to our dairy, meeting students from @RoyalAgUni @AddingtonFund to which I’m lucky enough to be a Vice-Patron, & other farming leaders in the county. 

‘A beautiful and happy day.’

The Countess of Wessex listened intently as she was shown the dairy’s milking system

The Countess took a keen interest as she toured the dairy farm. She wore sturdy wellies for the occasion

Her trip to the farm was not the only official visit Sophie made on Tuesday, with the royal making the most of her time in Cirencester.

She went on to visit Cirencester Housing for Young People, a local charity which provides supported accommodation for vulnerable young people, as well as Cirencester Signpost, a local group which gets people together to enhance wellbeing. 

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Sophie’s husband, Prince Edward attended a meeting of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in his capacity as the chairman of its board and later a Radio Times’ anniversary party.

Edward, the Earl of Wessex, 58, is the late Queen’s youngest son and the couple share two children, Lady Louise Windsor, 19, and James, Viscount Severn, 15.

Lady Louise is currently away studying at St Andrew’s University in Scotland, meaning her mother likely celebrated her birthday in late January without her beloved daughter. 

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