Queen Elizabeth II had a very close bond with Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, that she didn’t share with Princess Diana or Sarah, Duchess of York.
The Queen Gave Sophie An Award From The Royal Victorian Order
The most reliable way to know a monarch has a good relationship with a member of the royal family and values their work is when the sovereign gives out an award from the prestigious Royal Victorian Order.
The Royal Victorian Order was founded by Queen Victoria in April 1896. The purpose of this recognition is to reward distinguished personal services to the monarch.
It is considered a personal gift from the sovereign, is awarded solely at their discretion, and isn’t influenced by the government’s advice.
This award is one of the few key clues to see the status of the royal family members. Neither Fergie nor Diana, Princess of Wales, received this honor.
Fergie was married to the Queen’s favorite son, Prince Andrew, for ten years, and Diana was married to Prince Charles, heir to the British throne.
However, Queen Elizabeth gave the award to Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in 2010. She had been married to her son, Prince Edward, for eleven years.
Her Majesty bestowed the honor on Kate Middelton in 2019. Sophie and Edward didn’t have the best reputation during the start of their royal careers.
Sophie And Edward Made “Sussex-Like” Mistakes At The Start Of Their Royal Career
Much like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, they tried to use their titles for commercial gain. She was in PR, and he was in TV production in addition to their royal duties.
Sophie had a humiliating experience when she spoke with a reporter in the guise of a sheik whom she believed was a potential client. She described the Queen as an “old dear” and made some other unwelcome comments, which ended her PR career.
Unlike the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Sophie and Edward let go of their businesses to focus solely on their royal duties. They rebuilt their reputations and earned respect from the royal family, namely the Queen.
It wasn’t long before Sophie and Queen Elizabeth became close, and eventually, she became like a second daughter to her.
They walked their dogs together and shared a love of military history. Sophie and the Queen often spent time together at Windsor watching old war movies and historical documentaries.
When Sophie lost her mom to cancer, her bond with the Queen grew stronger. The monarch was a good source of support for Sophie as she was someone Sophie could confide in.
Queen Elizabeth Leaned On Sophie After The Deaths Of Her Sister, Mother, And Husband
Then, it was the Queen’s turn to lean on her. Her sister, Princess Margaret, and her mother, Queen Elizabeth I, the Queen Mother, passed away, and Sophie helped her cope with the losses.
When the Queen’s beloved husband, Prince Phillip, died in April 2021, the Queen often invited her to take her late husband’s place with her in the back of the car.
Sophie was often chosen to travel with the Queen when she attended church services at Balmoral or Sandringham. According to a royal insider, the monarch “found her presence soothing. ”
Sophie also won points with the Queen because her marriage to Edward has lasted. However, Charles, Andrew, and Anne all divorced their spouses.
The Queen even personally chose Sophie to help Meghan adjust to royal life, but Meghan felt it was beneath her to receive help from an advisor, especially because she had Harry.
In the years leading up to the monarch’s death, Sophie made it a point to learn to ride horses properly so she could ride with the sovereign.
A royal source explained,
“Sophie is like another daughter to the Queen; they are close. She is trusted and relied on like few others.”
Her Majesty could always depend on Sophie and Edward to carry out their royal duties to the utmost of their abilities. The Queen considered them two of the most valuable members of the Firm.
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