Duchess Sophie has been a member of the Royal Family for 26 years now, however her popularity has soared in particular in recent years. The Duchess of Edinburgh, 60, has been in the spotlight more than ever recently as a result of her dedication to the monarchy, with many royal fans dubbing her “Super Sophie”.
However, as well as being popular with the public, Prince Edward’s wife also seems to be popular with his royal relatives, who welcomed her into the fold from the moment she married the prince in 1999. Although unconfirmed by the royals themselves, it is believed the family refer to Sophie as a “secret weapon” for the monarchy, according to The Sun’s royal editor Matt Wilkinson – a very flattering two-word nickname. It is also believed she is considered among one of the most trustworthy royals, which is also one of the reasons she was so close to the late Queen Elizabeth II, and shares an equally close bond with her brother-in-law King Charles.
Sophie, who supports over 70 charities and organisations, is also close to her nephew Prince William and his wife Princess Kate, and is believed to have been a massive support for the family last year when Kate was diagnosed with cancer.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond recently told the Mirror: “I think Sophie has been able to offer Catherine a huge amount of advice over the years – not just about how to fit into this very elite family, but also about how to juggle a hectic working life with bringing up children.
“And I suspect that Sophie has been a great comfort to Catherine (and indeed to William) during the past very difficult 18 months.
“Sophie went through some alarming health scares during childbirth and would have been a shoulder to cry on if Catherine felt the need.”
Having married Edward in 1999, Sophie has now been a member of the Royal Family for 26 years, and seems to be happier than ever.
The duchess, who shares two children with Edward, left behind her PR career for royal duty, which she has excelled at.
The family have lived at the royal residence Bagshot Park in Surrey for almost three decades now, having been gifted the home by the late Queen.