Sophie Rhys-Jones has been reprimanded by other members of the royal family over indiscreet and insulting comments she made about Tony Blair and William Hague.

The Countess of Wessex, the wife of the former Prince Edward who is now Earl of Wessex, and a public relations executive has complained that she was "set up" by a News of the World journalist posing as a wealthy sheikh who wanted to hire her PR company.

She was forced to apologise for her taped comments that Blair was too "presidential" and Hague "unelectable" and has denied claims that she "insulted" the queen and queen mother.

The journalist is thought to be the notorious "sting" operator, Mazer Mahmood.