In recent years, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, has become one of the most well-liked working royals. She has consistently championed issues that received minimal global attention in the past. Her role as a "secret weapon" for the royal family has been established as a result of her tight relationships with King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
An insider in the royal family has mentioned that Prince William and Sophie have a close chemistry and that Prince William is ready for his aunt and uncle to take on more public responsibilities. According to Mirror, this has led to reports that claim Prince William intends to give Sophie a big role when he ascends to the throne.
Royal authorities have expressed their excitement at the possibility of this development. Jennie Bond, a former royal correspondent for the BBC, expressed her admiration for Sophie. She stated that Sophie has demonstrated that she is a significant asset to the royal family.
It was emphasized by Bond that it would be unwise for Prince William to overlook the value that Sophie brings, particularly because she addresses difficult issues such as sexual violence in conflict zones, female genital mutilation, and gender equality. These are topics that align with Prince William's own focus on mental health and male suicide rates.
Since her marriage to Prince Edward, Sophie has managed to keep her charming personality, which is seen as being dignified and elegant while also being humble and generous.
Her recent rise to notoriety can be due to her job as an accomplished diplomat, who is frequently dispatched on politically delicate missions to regions that are experiencing difficulties. During her travels, she has been to a number of countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Baghdad, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Ukraine. In each of these countries, she has leveraged the soft power of the monarchy to address sensitive circumstances.
When it comes to taking on tasks, especially in high-risk areas, Bond observed that Sophie is well-prepared and confident in her ability to do so.
She is regarded as a relatively young senior royal at the age of sixty, and experts believe that she will play a big role in the future. Future King William is likely to rely on both Sophie and Prince Edward to uphold the monarchy.
The 20th of January is the day that Duchess Sophie enjoys her birthday, as reported by Express. She and Prince Edward live at Bagshot Park in Surrey with their children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex. At the celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary, which took place the previous year, Sophie publicly praised Edward, describing him as "the best of fathers, the most loving of husbands, and still my best friend."
Business Times has reached out to the representatives of Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, for comments.