Queen's daughter-in-law rolls her eyes at claim senior royals have formed 'magnificent seven'

Watch: Sophie, Countess of Wessex, weeps as she remembers Prince Philip

The Countess of Wessex has made her feelings all too clear about being dubbed part of the royal "magnificent seven" – by rolling her eyes at the term.

The senior royals who are carrying out duties have been given the term by various tabloids, particularly in the wake of the departure of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the stepping back of Prince Andrew and the death of Prince Philip.

In some instances Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, has been dubbed the Royal Family's secret weapon, and is reportedly stepping up her royal workload.

But the countess has been adamant that she has always worked hard for the Queen, though she says she is pleased the issues she is passionate about will get more coverage.

During an interview with Radio 5 Live, Naga Munchetty raised the term "magnificent seven", and then said: "I can see your face, your eyes have gone up to the ceiling and you're now laughing.

"I've looked at the numbers of engagements you perform over the years and they're in the hundreds, every year."

Read more: 'It's her time now': Sophie opens up on daughter Louise, 17, after year in lockdown together

Sophie said there was an increased awareness of her and her husband as a couple and as a family, but was not sure she could step up her work any further.

She said: "I can only do a certain amount every year, my office is only so big, I can only do so much but it means there is more attention on what I'm doing. That can only be a good thing.

"The organisations that I work with by default should receive more attention."

Asked about how she gets privacy in moments when it is needed, she said: "That hasn't changed much, we have got a lot of really good close friends who we know and trust, we don't broadcast what we are doing.

"There are moments where we are doing semi-private things but in a public space and in those circumstances you have to accept there will be an amount of attention, if you are somewhere where there are going to be cameras, well it is what it is.

"When you are in a really private space and somebody invades that I think you have a right to say, whoa, you've overstepped the line here.

"But generally speaking we have a pretty good private life."

Read more: Sophie says Prince Philip's death left 'giant-sized hole' in Royal Family

The seven are Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Kate, Prince Edward and Sophie and Princess Anne.

Harry and Meghan stepped back from their roles in March 2020, confirming in February 2021 that they would not return to the royal working fold, while Andrew's working duties were suspended indefinitely in November 2019.

Sophie and her husband Prince Edward became full-time working royals in 2002, giving up careers in the private sector to support the Queen during her Golden Jubilee year.

However, they do not have their own household, like the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall or the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, so their profile has been lower over the years.

She's previously said she does not expect her children Lady Louise Windsor and James, the Viscount Severn, to take on royal duties. Their cousins Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie work for a living, as do Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips.

Watch: Who is Prince Edward?