Kate Middleton was recently called out for snubbing Sophie, Countess of Wessex’s entry to the Duchess of Cambridge’s Hold Still photography competition.

According to New Idea, Sophie showed her support to Middleton’s project by submitting a striking image of a foodbank worker. But after the top photos were selected, it was revealed that Sophie’s snap didn’t make the mark.

Royal experts Rachel Bowie and Roberta Fiorito talked about the alleged snub on the Royally Obsessed podcast and said that there’s a valid reason why Sophie’s photo didn’t make the cut.

“Sophie, Countess of Wessex was the only royal relative that we know of to have submitted a photo to Kate’s project, but her picture didn’t get chosen It would have felt a little too insider if Sophie did get picked. That is true it would have been a little bit of nepotism,” they said.

But despite the recent snub, there is no denying the fact that Middleton and Sophie have a wonderful relationship.

While speaking with Express, body language expert Judi James said that Sophie has become one of Middleton’s strongest allies within the royal family.

“Sophie is said to be a close ally of her mother-in-law the Queen. In terms of her body language, she tends to blend some of the signals of the kind of laid-back calm and fun that we get from Zara with the stoic, deft formality of the Queen herself. This attitude must have made her the perfect royal wife to welcome and induct Kate into the Royal Family. Especially in the face of William’s horror of bringing Kate into the same circus that he watched his mother suffer,” James said.

James also said that Prince Edward’s wife’s formula for success has seemingly been copied by Middleton as well.

“She has managed to tread the very fine line of creating interest that is positive but not unmanageable,” she said.

Meanwhile, Sophie also made headlines this week amid reports that her youngest child, James, Viscount Severn will undergo an important change to his status.

Etiquette experts Debretts talked about James’ title recently.

“Viscount Severn is a subsidiary title of his father the Earl of Wessex and is therefore used as a courtesy title. It may be assumed that he will succeed to the title Earl of Wessex as and when his father becomes Duke of Edinburgh,” they said.