Sophie found royal life limiting at first (Image: Getty)
, has opened up about her ‘frustration’ as she grappled with the constraints of Royal life after marrying into the Firm.
As a PR professional, known as Sophie Rhys-Jones, the Duchess, who celebrates her 60th birthday next week, was used to expressing her opinions freely while managing corporate communications.
However, since tying the knot with Prince Edward in 1999, she’s had to exercise more caution: “Certainly it took me a while to find my feet,” Sophie confessed, adding: “The frustration was that I had to reduce my expectations of what I could actually do.”
The Duchess revealed that she naturally wanted to provide solid business advice to charities, but they expected her to merely be the “icing on the cake – the person to come in and thank their volunteers and funders – not necessarily to tell them how to run their communications plan.”
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The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh in Horatio’s Garden during a visit to the National Spinal Injuries Centre in Stoke Mandeville Hospital near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Picture date: Thursday November 14, 2024. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire (Image: PA)
Despite having to suppress her natural tendency to advise people on their business operations, Sophie has emerged as a vital member of The Firm, often referred to as the Royal Family’s “Secret Weapon.” Woman Magazine states that the public have “really taken her into their hearts.”
Sophie and her husband, Prince Edward, are said to have an excellent working relationship with and Princess Catherine, and the future king is reportedly “eager” for his aunt and uncle to assume a more visible role in public life when he eventually ascends to the throne, reports .
Royal commentator Ingrid Seward has praised the Duchess for her effectiveness as a royal, stating: “With Sophie, it’s not all about her.
“She was one of the first ‘outsiders’ who came into the royal family and realised it’s about all of ‘them’ working together as a team. She really gets that and doesn’t want praise heaped on her.”
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LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 10: Catherine, Princess of Wales and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attend the annual Service Of Remembrance at The Cenotaph on November 10, 2024 in London, England. Each year members of the British Royal Family join politicians, veterans and members of the public to remember those who have died in combat. (Photo by Alberto Pezzali – WPA Pool/Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)
Despite her apparent adherence to Royal protocol, Sophie retains a rebellious streak.
Her recent visit to , despite being officially approved by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, faced opposition behind the scenes.
A source told The Times: “The government tried to stop her going to , but she wasn’t having any of it.”
It is reported that the Duchess plans to visit several other conflict zones in the future, regardless of official advice.