Countess Sophie Sparkles in Sapphires at the Royal Variety Performance

On Thursday, the Earl and Countess of Wessex arrived at the Royal Albert Hall to attend the Royal Variety Performance. The televised performance benefits the Royal Variety Charity, an organization which “assists those who’ve worked professionally in the entertainment industry and are in need of help.”

This was Edward and Sophie’s first time attending the performance. They represented his brother, King Charles III, who is now patron of the charity. The reigning monarch has served as the charity’s patron since the days of Charles and Edward’s great-grandfather, King George V.

As the arrived at the venue, Edward and Sophie received a program and a bouquet from Beatrice Ann Mansfield and Sophie Colassanti.

The Wessexes also met with Joan Williams, a retired royal photographer who now resides at Brinsworth House, the Royal Variety Charity’s care home in Twickenham. Sophie was clearly delighted to see some of the photos of young Edward taken by Joan during the filming of the documentary Royal Family.

For the performance, Sophie wore an elegant gown of shimmering lace by Erdem.

She accessorized with a grand pair of chandelier earrings from Graff, made of white gold and set with diamonds and bright blue sapphires.

Here’s a close-up of the earrings themselves from the firm’s website. Sophie previously wore these in the spring during the couple’s visit to Gibraltar.