Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, turns 61 today, on January 20. Often dubbed the “royal family’s secret weapon,” she works tirelessly to advance women’s rights and gender equality worldwide.
Sophie Focuses Her Charity Work On Women’s Rights, Disabilities, and Sight Loss
The wife of the late Queen’s youngest son, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, she also focuses her charity work on disabilities and sight loss, which is influenced by her daughter, Lady Louise Windsor.
Her royal role has only become more prominent in the years since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and the former Prince Andrew, have stepped away from royal duties.
Sophie’s children, Lady Louise and James Viscount Severn, do not have royal titles, a decision she and her husband made to help provide their kids with as normal a childhood as possible.
The late Queen Elizabeth II was very close to Sophie, often seeing her more like a daughter than a daughter-in-law. The bond they shared was fueled by their similar interests.
The pair would spend a lot of time together at Windsor, watching historical documentaries and old war films. Sophie would also attend church with the Queen in Balmoral or Sandringham.
The royal has a stellar reputation and an indelible work ethic. She’s traveled all over the world to many places other senior royals wouldn’t dare visit, such as Iraq and Ukraine.
She champions the plight of women around the world and delivers a message of peace and works to combat sexual violence. Sophie supports King Charles and is widely regarded as an invaluable asset to the monarchy.
Kate and William Greatly Admire Sophie and Edward
Kate Middleton and Prince William greatly admire Sophie and Edward’s quiet but steady presence and their dutiful approach to their royal roles.
Kate is particularly impressed by the work Sophie does to champion women and by her charity work supporting young people.
The Wales have come to truly value the couple and feel they will be essential to the future of the monarchy when William becomes King.
Sophie also really stepped up when the King and the Princess of Wales couldn’t attend public duties or undertake engagements when they were recovering from cancer treatment.
Sophie was born on January 20, 1965, in Oxford, England. The Duchess of Edinburgh is no stranger to hard work, as she had her own successful career before she joined the royal family.
She worked in public relations for dozens of firms and PR companies until she launched her own PR agency, RJH Public Relations.
In 2002, she closed down her business and became a full-time working member of the royal family. She is now a patron of over 70 charities and organizations.
Sophie First Met Prince Edward in 1987
Sophie met Prince Edward in 1987 but didn’t reconnect until 1993. The pair married in June 1999 at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
The couple welcomed their first child in November 2003. Their daughter, Lady Louise, endured a complicated birth where mother and baby almost died.
Fortunately, they made it through after Sophie had a C-section following placental abruption. She had lost nine pints of blood, leaving her in critical condition.
Thankfully, Sophie, Lady, and Louise survived. In December 2007, Sophie and Edward welcomed their second child, James, into the family.
Sophie’s moniker, “the secret weapon of the royal family,” isn’t so secret anymore. When asked about her thoughts regarding the description, she revealed her modesty,
“I like to fly under the radar. It’s all very well being a secret weapon, but if no one knows, maybe it’s too secret.”
The Duchess added,
“I suppose I should take it as a backhanded compliment. I don’t see myself as a frontline person per se, that said, admittedly, there are fewer working members of the royal family these days, so I suppose more and more I’m becoming less secretive. I just wonder what they are going to describe me as next!”
We wish Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, a very happy birthday!
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