Palace braced as 'Sophie tapes' are published
The Countess of Wessex is facing new and potentially damaging revelations after the News of the World published the full "Sophie tapes" transcripts.
She was recorded calling the Prime Minister "President Blair", saying William Hague looked like a puppet and described the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles as "number one on the top 10 unpopular people".
The 10 pages of revelations also contained allegations about the personal life of the Countess's business partner Murray Harkin.
Sophie, who was secretly recorded talking to a fake Arab sheikh, called Chancellor Gordon Brown's Budget "a load of pap".
She supported foxhunting, saying Tony Blair was "ignorant" of the countryside and his wife Cherie was "even worse, she hates the countryside".
Cherie was working as a barrister "to keep her hand in" in case Labour lost the General Election, she claimed.
Labour had "snuck in so much" tax through the back door, the Countess said, describing the rise in tax as "frightening".
The Countess said the Duchess of York's children, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, would have a "problem" because they expected their royal titles to work for them.
Former prime minister John Major was described "completely wooden" while the general public disliked Mr Hague, his successor as Tory leader.
But the Countess also described the Prince of Wales as "great fun", saying he was "so laid-back" with sons Prince William and Prince Harry.
