16-06-2025
Sophie & Edward Wessex could take over from Meghan & Harry – they're no spring chickens but at least people like them
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry ditched royal duties five years ago - but could be replaced by Sophie and Edward Wessex, according to experts.
Speaking on The Sun's Royal Exclusive show, the topic of whether the "House of Edinburgh" could replace the "House of Sussex" was discussed.
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ITV's Royal Editor Chris Ship claimed: 'I don't think replace like for like.
'I think they could be an additional resource for Buckingham Palace.
'Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh now, recently celebrated his 60th birthday, so they're not spring chickens either.
'But I take your point that they are that sort of generation in between William and Kate and the King and Queen.'
Last week, Prince William, 42, and his aunt Sophie, 60, teamed up in a rare royal engagement together.
They toasted each other with gin at the Royal Cornwall Show — and she proved to be a tonic by helping out with the heir to the throne's duties.
Sources said the day was a huge success, with Sophie previously being touted as the Royal Family's 'secret weapon' thanks to her unwavering support for the monarchy and dedication to charities.
Sophie, who is mum to Lady Louise, 21, and James, Earl of Wessex, 17, was ranked the fourth hardest working royal of last year, having carried out 257 engagements.
The Sun's Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson pointed out: 'We currently have the King and the Queen and we have the Waleses.
'The Yorks are excommunicated, the Sussexes have disappeared.
Sun lipreader Kayleigh Harris said Princess Kate turns to Sophie Wessex and says she will be supported in this
'We don't actually have many working rules. We need Sophie and Edward.'
Royal Correspondent Bronte Coy agreed, and praised Sophie for her ability to 'connect with people.'
She shared: 'I always feel when we see these pictures of Sophie out on engagements or in this case the one with William which was so much fun.
'The two of them were joking about having a drink together and they just had this easy banter. You can tell they get along.
'When you see her out and about engaging with people, it's always just a really easy thing to watch her do it.
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'She does it with such ease. She connects with people so well and you wonder why we don't see more from her. because exactly as you say, there's a space for it.
'I think that hopefully there will be more of that in the future, especially as the Waleses move up through the ranks, down the line, whenever that is.
'I think the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have a really good way of, not to sound ageist at all, but to bridge the gap, to broaden the demographic of appeal for the Royals.
'You've got William and Catherine that are in their 40s and then you've got the others who are in their 70s.
'Sophie and Edward are in the middle there and people really like them and they work very hard.'
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TOUGH ROYAL TIMES
Sophie's welcome contribution comes at a difficult time for the Royal Family.
They were rocked last year when the King and the Princess of Wales were diagnosed with cancer.
Charles continues to receive treatment, while Kate announced earlier this year that she was in remission.
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Princess Kate is said to have found a 'tower of strength' in the Duchess of Edinburgh as she supported her throughout her cancer diagnosis.
Royal biographer Claudia Joseph has claimed the pair have an 'unbreakable bond.'
She told Fabulous: "I'm sure that Sophie has been a tower of strength through Kate's cancer diagnosis and will be there for her at the end of the phone whenever she wants a chat.
'They are incredibly close and live only 11 miles from each other – Kate in Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Home Park and Sophie at Bagshot Park.'
Sophie and Prince Edward's royal romance
When Sophie met Edward in 1987 she was a PR for Capital Radio, but it was six years before they started dating.
They then began a romance in earnest, but went to great lengths to avoid photographers, especially when Sophie began staying overnight at Edward's three-room apartment in Buckingham Palace. When calling Sophie at her office, the Prince would use the name Richard — not that he fooled her colleagues for long.
Six years after they started going out, Edward proposed, with a £105,000 ring from Crown jewellers Garrard.
Starting a family was not straightforward. In 2001 Sophie suffered an ectopic pregnancy.
In 2003, the birth of daughter Louise was similarly dramatic. The baby was a month premature and Sophie lost nine pints of blood, had a caesarean and was in hospital for 15 days. In 2007 she had another caesarean giving birth to son James.
Last summer, during the break before the second lockdown, Edward, Sophie and their children, now 17 and 13, were among the first to stay with the Queen and Philip at Balmoral, and the last to leave.
