Sophie met on Wednesday Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, as she continues the Firm's first visit abroad of 2022. With these important series of engagements, the Countess of Wessex is highlighting how pivotal she is within the Royal Family after being described by many royal watchers over the past few months as the Firm's "secret weapon".

       Sophie arrived in Qatar earlier this week, travelling with Orbis In the Middle East, an organisation working with partners to prevent avoidable blindness in communities, as a global ambassador for IAPB - an international alliance of more than 150 member organisations focused on the efforts to create a world where no one is needlessly visually impaired or blind.

       During this visit, the Countess is visiting Qatari organisations and meeting people who are championing eye healthcare programmes and are working to tackle avoidable blindness in their country.

       On Wednesday, during her meeting with Mr Al Thani, Sophie worked to further increase cooperation to tackle avoidable blindness and help those in need.

       The Qatari minister shared on Twitter a picture taken during his meeting with Sophie.

       His message read: "Pleased to meet HRH The Countess of Wessex today in #Doha.

       "We discussed topics of mutual interest and developments in the @QCV_Sight initiative between @Qatar_Fund and @Orbisintl.

       "We look forward to enhancing our cooperation to fulfill our humanitarian duty towards those in need."

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       On Tuesday, Sophie visited Qatar Charity to hear about their eye care initiative with Orbis in Bangladesh.

       The organisation also updated the Countess on their ongoing support of Afghan evacuees.

       Sophie later visited the National Museum of Qatar, where she learned more about Qatar's heritage.

       There, she saw the multi-sensory, interactive exhibitions that have been designed for those who are blind and visually impaired.

       This isn't the first time Sophie travels to Qatar with the charity Orbis.

       In 2013, the Countess flew to Doha for a solo three-visit during which she learned more about the progress made on eye health and even witnessed 3D eye surgery demonstrations at Qatar Science and Technology Park.

       The campaign on avoidable blindness is one of the main areas of interest in Sophie's royal work.

       The public's attention on the Countess skyrocketed in early 2020, in the wake of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision to step back as senior royals.

       Many commentators suggested the Countess of Wessex and her husband Prince Edward would be required to step up and take on more roles to make up for the hole created by the Sussexes.

       In June that year, Sophie addressed speculation and, when asked if the public would see "more of her", she told the Sunday Times: "There are only so many hours in the day.

       "People may pay more attention to what I am doing, but I remain as busy as I have ever been."

       Sophie's trip to Qatar comes as Kate is expected to return to work following the Christmas break.

       Her husband Prince William resumed his working duties today by leading an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.

       On Sunday, Kate celebrated her 40th birthday privately, after Kensington Palace shared three new portraits taken by photographer Paolo Roversi to mark this milestone.