Queen Elizabeth II has been enjoying Sophie’s company at the Balmoral Estate in Scotland. But now the summer has come to an end, the Countess of Wessex has kick started her work with a visit to the Thames Valley Air Ambulance (TVAA) on Thursday.
The Countess is a patron for the TVAA and her visit coincided with their 21st anniversary.
The royal engagement also marked national Air Ambulance week which runs from 7 to 13 September.
The TVAA is the same service which helped the Countess when she experienced a terrifying pregnancy emergency in 2001.
She had an ectopic pregnancy which needed urgent medical care.
The Countess was flown by the TVAA helicopter crew to hospital.
The royal went on to have two children, Lady Louise, 16, and Viscount James Severn, 12.
The Royal Family’s official Instagram account published a picture of the Countess speaking to TVAA crew members.
The caption said: “Today The Countess of Wessex visited Thames Valley Air Ambulance to help launch their 21st anniversary celebrations. HRH is Patron of Thames Valley Air Ambulance.
READ MORE: Sophie Wessex heartbreak: Countess dealt ‘devastating’ blow
The Caption continued: “The Countess met critical care paramedics, Hannah and Neil, Doctor James, an Emergency Consultant at John Radcliff Hospital as well as the Air Ambulance, and Pilot Dave who has previously served in the Royal Air Force.
“The Countess also sat down with former patients of Thames Valley Air Ambulance, including Charlotte who was involved in a serious road traffic collision in 2013 which left her with life-threatening injuries.
“The care she received that day from the air ambulance inspired her to change her career and this year, she became a fully qualified paramedic.”
The Countess wore an understated outfit that complimented her back-to-work aura.
She wore a blue floral printed blouse with a black blazer and a pair of navy trousers.
She also carried a cute woven bag and finished the outfit with a pair of chunky heeled sandals.
The Countess shared a few jokes with the TVAA crew during her visit.
While pointing towards the cockpit of a helicopter, she said: “I’ve been in here so often I could fly it myself.”
She added: “Now watch me fall out.”
