Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh branded 'secret weapon' as she steps up in Royal Family
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh branded 'secret weapon' as she steps up in Royal Family
Although the majority of her charitable work has gone unreported, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh is becoming an increasingly valuable asset to The Firm
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh is seen as having vital importance in the coming years
(Image: WPA Pool, Getty Images )
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh's affectionate two-word moniker has been unveiled, as she is predicted to take on a more prominent role within the Royal Family.
The wife of Prince Edward for over 26 years, Sophie has dedicated much of her Royal life to charitable endeavours, particularly in the realm of women's rights. However, her efforts have often gone unnoticed, with limited public recognition of her extensive work.
Arthur Edwards, a seasoned photographer who has documented Royal events for nearly fifty years, shared with The Sun's Royal podcast that while Sophie is "a joy to photograph," her contributions rarely make headlines.
Prince Edward and his wife are seen as an increasingly important asset to the Royal Family
(Image: Pool, Getty Images )
Given the King's recent health concerns and Prince William's children being at present too young to undertake the rigorous demands of Royal duties, some believe that Sophie and Edward could offer valuable support to the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The Sun's Royal editor Matt Wilkinson highlighted how Sophie has always been referred to as the royals' "secret weapon", pondering: "I'm just wondering whether the kind of House of Edinburgh could replace the House of Sussex at some stage."
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ITV Royal correspondent Chris Ship agreed, suggesting: "I think they could be an additional resource for Buckingham Palace."
Sophie was created Duchess of Edinburgh on her husband's 59th birthday, 10 March 2023
(Image: WPA Pool, Getty Images )
Chris added that while the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh aren't exactly "sparing chickens" they provide a sense of continuity, representing a generation "in between William and Kate and and the King and Queen".
Royal commentator Arthur Edwards suggested that Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie might take on more official roles to bolster the slim ranks of the Royal Family's working members.
Arthur also raised concerns about the limited media attention given to the couple's engagements, stating: "For some reason, newspapers and TV don't publish [the photos], they don't run the stories. They don't go to India when she goes to India, they don't go to Mali and these places where she goes. It just seems that all the good work she does goes unreported."
Some experts think Sophie and Edward could provide much-needed backup for the Prince and Princess of Wales in future
(Image: JANE BARLOW, POOL/AFP via Getty Images )
Palace insider Chris highlighted shortcomings with the Palace's communication strategy when it comes to Sophie's royal engagements, saying: "Often, they don't tell us in advance where she's going and only tell us when she's already got there – which doesn't help when you've got to dispatch cameras halfway around the world."
While Sophie's children, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and her younger brother James, Earl of Wessex, have not indicated a desire to undertake full-time Royal duties, royal-watchers have started viewing Lady Louise as an emerging asset for the family.
The Countess of Wessex, at 60-years-old, remains active with over 70 patronages, including Childline and the London College of Fashion, and regularly attends upwards of 200 engagements annually, encompassing a wide range of visits from educational institutions to military bases.
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Indeed, with Harry and Meghan having stepped back, and both His Majesty the King and the Princess of Wales needing to pay extra attention to their health, there's a pressing need to bolster the Royal Family's leading figures, and this could be Sophie's moment in the spotlight.
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