As the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and Sophie celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, a Royal expert has revealed the role the latter played in supporting others – including Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle

A key royal described as The Firm’s “secret weapon” has been a “great support” to Kate Middleton as she “knew exactly what lay in wait” for her as she joined the family – and that it “wouldn’t always be easy”.

Since their modest wedding in 1999, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh’s popularity has quietly soared. Celebrating their 25th anniversary, Edward and Sophie, now the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, are often praised as vital “secret weapons” within the Royal Family.

Jennie Bond, the veteran former BBC Royal correspondent, has spoken out about the Duchess’s appeal and grounded nature, which she believes are central to her positive public image. And Sophie’s warmth isn’t just for show; she’s known to have offered a helping hand to Kate, the Princess of Wales, and Meghan Markle, during critical times in their Royal lives.

“Sophie has become one of the most loved members of the royal family, forging a deep and mutually affectionate relationship with both of her in-laws, the late Queen and Prince Philip,” Jennie revealed, claiming Queen Elizabeth II even regarded Sophie as a “second daughter”, after Princess Anne.

Jennie said: “Sophie is delightfully open about her love for her husband, she is close to Catherine and has no doubt been a great support to her in her health crisis. Even though a 17-year age gap seems a lot to bridge, the two women have a lot in common and became firm friends quite early on. Sophie knew exactly what lay in wait for Catherine as she joined the family and she knew it wouldn’t always be easy.

Sophie loses her balance and falls on to Kate as the carriages pull away at Royal Ascot ( Image: Jason Dawson/JASONPIX)
“By nature, Sophie is a kind and generous person who has always been happy to act as sounding board, mentor, confidante… or sometimes just another girl to share a giggle with. So I have no doubt that Sophie has been someone to whom Catherine has frequently turned. They’ve often been seen enjoying a private joke in public and certainly seem more like sisters than aunt and niece by marriage. Sophie has retained a girlishness about her, while Catherine perhaps because of her very senior role in the family sometimes seems mature beyond her years.

“I’m sure both Sophie and Edward would have been in close contact with William and Catherine throughout her illness, offering moral support as well as practical help by stepping up to take on extra royal duties while both she and the King recover.”

Edward and Sophie tied the knot in a cosy ceremony at St George’s Chapel, Windsor on 19 June, 1999, and have since become a formidable team. Their low-key nuptials were a stark contrast to the lavish ceremonies of the Prince and Princess of Wales or the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, reflecting their understated public life and strong partnership.

Chatting with King Charles in 2022 ( Image: Getty Images)
“Sophie is a natural, humble woman – clearly still very much in love with her husband – and a woman who has grown into her role without fuss or fanfare,” Jennie said.

The way they managed their wedding, along with their behaviour in the following years – despite being part of one of the world’s most famous families – has significantly contributed to Edward and Sophie’s increasing popularity, Jennie revealed to OK!

“Understated, unshowy and as down-to-earth as you can be when you are born into the royal family. That’s how Edward and Sophie are today… and it’s how they were 25 years ago on their relatively understated wedding day at Windsor,” Jennie told OK!.

“Perhaps part of the secret of their successful marriage is that they spent five years in a relationship before tying the knot. And that was pretty unusual at the time. Sophie had seen at first hand the trauma of the Diana years, the breakdown of Charles and Diana’s marriage, the Yorks’ divorce and Anne’s divorce and second marriage. It was probably quite courageous to become another royal bride! But, by the time they got married, both Edward and Sophie were mature enough to know that they were right for one another.”

The Duchess was frequently described as a second daughter for the late Queen ( Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The romance of Edward and Sophie kicked off with a serendipitous meeting at London’s Capital Radio in 1987, but it was their encounter at a charity tennis event six years on that really set the sparks flying. The prince got down on one knee during a 1998 holiday, leading to a grand reveal of their engagement in January 1999.

Their wedding was anything but stuffy, with the couple inviting guests to an “informal” ceremony where evening attire was encouraged and hats were ditched. But there was one Royal who stuck to her iconic look; the Queen Mother, then 98, defied the dress code and turned up in a striking, lilac feathered hat.

Edward cut a fine figure in his morning suit, while Sophie shone in a Samantha Shaw-designed dress, topped off with the Anthemion tiara, studded with jewels from Queen Elizabeth II herself.

The couple married at St George’s Chapel, Windsor in 1999 ( Image: Getty)DON’T MISS
Nowadays, Edward and Sophie are the picture of commitment, balancing their duties as parents to Lady Louise Windsor, 20, and James, Earl of Wessex, 16, with their Royal responsibilities. Their journey hasn’t been without its scares, though.

A year after Sophie was airlifted to hospital for an ectopic pregnancy, she was rushed to Frimley Park Hospital at 36 weeks pregnant with Lady Louise, suffering severe internal pains. It turned out to be a critical situation due to blood loss, and an emergency C-section was performed.

Lady Louise was a mere 4lb 9oz at birth and spent her initial two weeks in a specialist neonatal unit at St George’s Hospital, South West London. Due to Sophie’s ill health, she couldn’t be moved to be with her newborn daughter, resulting in the mother and child being separated during these vital early days.

The couple’s relationship has been put through the wringer with the passing of Sophie’s dear mum, Mary Rhys-Jones, in 2005, as well as the recent losses of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II. However, their mutual love and support have enabled them to navigate their sorrow, thereby strengthening their bond even more.

Kate with Louis in 2022 during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in front of Buckingham Palace ( Image: PA)

King Charles’ affection for Sophie is evident, and Jennie attributes this to Sophie’s unassuming nature, which has made her an integral part of the family.

Jennie further commented: “She is seen as a safe pair of hands when carrying out her royal engagements either with the rest of the family or by herself. She doesn’t complain, she doesn’t demand, she just gets on with supporting the King when asked, and with pursuing her interests the rest of the time. She often does this under the radar, expecting no special treatment and is now absolutely part of the core working royals.”

Outside of her ceremonial duties, the duchess primarily focuses on charitable causes such as supporting young people with disabilities, eradicating avoidable blindness, agriculture, fashion and the prevention of sexual violence in conflict zones.

Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, has embarked on solo ventures to nations such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and most recently Ukraine, demonstrating her deep commitment to international issues.

When they’re not in the spotlight, Sophie and Prince Edward enjoy a serene life at Bagshot Park in Surrey with their children and three furry companions – Teal the labrador, Mole the cocker spaniel, and young labrador pup Teasel.

Royal expert Jennie spoke of the couple’s solid relationship saying, “Sophie’s longstanding and loyal love for her man speaks volumes. They have a very secure marriage and seem to support one another in everything they do.”

Their deep affection for each other was evident when Sophie gave a heartwarming tribute during Edward’s 60th birthday celebration in March.

In a speech that had Edward welling up, Sophie shared her respect for the Prince, saying, “Like my father-in-law, my husband never seeks compliments for himself. So when acknowledgment has come his way it has always been a total surprise to him, which is why I am grateful for this chance to, for once, be able to publicly celebrate and compliment him.”

She spoke fondly of Edward, saying: “He is the best of fathers, the most loving of husbands and still is my best friend. So here’s to you my darling Edward and may I along with all your family and so many friends and many others wish you the happiest of birthdays! “.

“In many ways Edward and Sophie have managed to be the most private of couples,” Jennie praises. “They look like a strong and stable team but without being particularly tactile in public or showy and the strength of their marriage speaks for itself.”