The Countess of Wessex is said to be ”furious” Girl Guides may drop their allegiance to the queen.
The British royal – wife of Prince Edward – has been the president of the organization since 2003, but is upset it may drop a pledge made by members to serve the queen as part of is continued rebranding as Girlguiding UK.
A vote has been taken as to whether the Guides’ oath will instead include the line: ”Engage myself with responsibility in the community I live in.”
Sophie reportedly feels this puts her in a compromising position.
A source told the Daily Express newspaper: ”She is absolutely furious.
”It has put her in a very embarrassing position. She is effectively representing the sovereign for an organization that wants to turn its back on the monarchy. You cannot blame her for thinking ‘why bother?’ ”
Countess Sophie has long supported the Guides organization, and was a member herself. She has also encouraged her own nine-year-old daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, to take part, and enrolled her in the Brownies, a precursor to Girlguiding.
Both Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne were also members of the Girl Guides Association – set up by Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the scouting movement – in the 30s.