Taking the reins! Sophie Wessex is elegant in navy as she joins Lady Louise to take part in carriage driving event at fourth day of Royal Windsor Horse Show

• Sophie Wessex attended the fourth day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show with Lady Louise earlier today  
• The mother-of-two beamed as she took her seat carriage driving during the event this morning 
• Meanwhile Lady Louise also took part in carriage driving, a passion she inherited from Prince Philip 
• Queen attended festivities earlier this week – her first public appearance since missing the Queen’s Speech

Sophie Wessex was in high spirits today as she joined her teenage daughter Lady Louise to take part in some carriage driving on the fourth day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show. 

The Countess cut an elegant figure in a navy blue velvet coat and matching hat earlier this morning, after the Queen attended the show on Friday – her first public appearance since missing the State Opening of Parliament. 

Meanwhile 18-year-old Louise appeared overjoyed as she took part in carriage driving at the event – a passion she inherited from her grandfather Prince Philip before his death last April.

The teenager could be seen beaming with joy as she drove one of the carriages at the Champagne Laurent-Perrier Meet of the British Driving Society in Windsor today. 

Today is the fourth day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show, one of the Queen’s favourite events of the year.

Sophie Wessex was in high spirits today as she joined her teenage daughter Lady Louise to take part in some carriage driving on the fourth day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show

Meanwhile 18-year-old Louise appeared overjoyed as she took part in carriage driving at the event – a passion she inherited from her grandfather Prince Philip before his death last April

The Countess cut an elegant figure in a navy blue velvet coat and matching hat earlier this morning, after the Queen attended the show on Friday – her first public appearance since missing the State Opening of Parliament

The Countess, who recently returned from a trip to the Channel Islands to mark the Queen’s Jubilee, swept her hair into a low ponytail for the occasion

The Countess, who recently returned from a trip to the Channel Islands to mark the Queen’s Jubilee, swept her hair into a low ponytail for the occasion. 

Meanwhile the mother-of-two also opted for neutral makeup.

Her Majesty attended the festivities herself on Friday, despite ongoing mobility problems which saw her miss the State Opening of Parliament on Tuesday. 

The Queen, 96, was clapped and cheered as she arrived in her Range Rover and wound down her window to chat animatedly to fellow festival-goers having never missed the event in the past 79 years.

The mother-of-two appeared in good spirits as she took part in the Champagne Laurent-Perrier Meet of the British Driving Society at the Royal Windsor Horse Show

Sophie, who is known for being close to her mother-in-law the Queen, took the reigns in a carriage just behind her daughters own 

The Countess opted for a velvet blue outfit for the outing earlier today, in which she sat in a large black carriage with red detailing (left and right) 

The Countess beamed as she watched her teenage daughter Lady Louise in a carriage just ahead of her at the event earlier today 

The Royal Windsor Horse Show crowds looked equally thrilled to see her at the event also beloved by her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, who died last April at the age of 99. 

The Wessexes were also in attendance on Friday and yesterday, with Sophie seen taking photographs of her daughter Lady Louise as she drove the Duke of Edinburgh’s carriage and led the Fell Pony Society centenary parade.      

Louise lives with her parents, Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex, and her younger brother James, Viscount Severn at Bagshot Park, in Surrey, just miles from Windsor. 

It is believed the young royal, who has competed in carriage-driving competitions, inherited her interest in carriage driving from the Duke of Edinburgh, who was instrumental in helping to establish carriage driving as a sport in Britain.

Meanwhile Lady Louise appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the carriage driving event earlier today, beaming as she took the reins of her horses in her hand 

The teenager, who inherited her love of carriage driving from Prince Philip, beamed widely as she took part in the event earlier today

Meanwhile members of the public watched on as Lady Louise and her mother Sophie rode their horses along in Windsor earlier this morning 

The teenager, who competed in the the British Indoor Carriage Driving Championships earlier this month, appeared well practiced at the sport 

And Louise is continuing to follow in his footsteps: earlier this month, she competed in the British Indoor Carriage Driving Championships.

Carriage driving was one of Prince Philip’s favourite past-times since the 1970s, and he raced carriages near Norfolk before going on to represent Britain at several world and European championships. 

In May 2017, Prince Philip spoke about how he took up carriage driving when he stopped playing polo at the age of 50.

He said: ‘I was looking round to see what next, I didn’t know what there was available. And I suddenly thought, well, we’ve got horses and carriages so why don’t I have a go.

‘So I borrowed four horses from the stables in London, took them to Norfolk and practised and thought – why not?’

The teenager, dressed in a smart khaki jacket with a matching hat for the occasion, was in good spirits during the meet earlier 

Lady Louise, who is the Queen’s youngest granddaughter, swept her blonde locks into a low ponytail for the outing earlier today (left and right) 

The young royal appeared to be beaming as she rode her carriage around Windsor earlier today alongside her mother Sophie 

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