The Duchess of Edinburgh has seen her status within the family elevated this year. It was already elevated when the Sussexes left the UK and Sophie hilariously pitched herself as their replacement for YEARS. When Charles became king, Sophie really began sucking up to Charles and Camilla and it’s paid off this year. With the Princess of Wales only being seen once this year, everything’s coming up Sophie! Which is the point of this latest dumb Mail commentary piece. First, they spent ten paragraphs comparing Sophie to the Duchess of Sussex (bizarre), all so they could get Richard Fitzwilliams to declare that Sophie is better than Meghan, for reasons!
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, who described Sophie as ‘cheerful, dedicated and attentive’, said that she has always been ‘the achiever.’
‘[The Duchess of Edinburgh] is down to earth which is pivotal, but without attracting adverse publicity,’ he said. ‘It is Sophie who has been the achiever. In recent years she has visited Kosovo, South Sudan, Iraq and Ukraine as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other African countries meeting victims of gender-based sexual violence. Sophie is active on the ground in this area, as shown in her visit to Sierra Leone in 2020, which is an excellent example of what working members of the royal family can achieve.’
However, in contrast, he suggested that the Duchess of Sussex is a very different character to the Duchess of Edinburgh; claiming that while Meghan is ‘self-obsessed’, Sophie prefers to ‘get on with it’.
He told FEMAIL: ‘Sophie was famously a confidante of the late Queen and King Charles knows he can trust her implicitly. Her temperament is very different to Meghan’s. The latter, though not without talent, is self-obsessed and reportedly temperamental. Sophie is attached to nearly 70 organisations. Meghan only had a few patronages, Harry had a few more [and] they chose to give them up to make a new life elsewhere. Sophie and Edward do not seek publicity or praise. Like Princess Anne, they get on with it, are trusted, do a lot of good and not just for themselves, as the Sussexes do often appear to do.’
Personally, if I was in Sophie’s position and the only way someone could compliment me was through the character assassination of a woman of color who left the country over four years ago, I might want to rethink everything. Is this really the only way to build up poor forgettable Sophie? Sophie who?? They’ve got to say “no, really, she’s better than Meghan, she’s exactly like Meghan only she’s white and she never left the country!” The cope is real. Also: “nearly 70 patronages” after being a royal wife for 25 years? By comparison, King Charles has like 800 patronages. Princess Anne has hundreds of patronages too. And given Sophie’s schedule, you would never guess that she is a “full-time working royal” either.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince Edward Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh photographed at the Trooping of the Colour on Saturday 15 June 2024 at Buckingham Palace, London. Trooping the Colour is a traditional parade held to mark the British Sovereign’s official birthday. This year the colours were trooped by The Irish Guards.,Image: 881899143, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: World Rights – Julie Edwards/Avalon.Red, Model Release: no, Credit line: Julie Edwards / Avalon 
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh centre, arrives for the Order of the Garter service, which is held at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, Monday, June 17, 2024. The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior British Order of Chivalry, established by King Edward III nearly 700 years ago. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool),Image: 882372575, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Pool, *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Kirsty Wigglesworth / Avalon 
Britain’s Prince William, the Prince of Wales, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, talk as they leave following the Order Of The Garter Service at Windsor Castle in Windsor, Britain, June 17, 2024.,Image: 882391812, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Isabel Infantes / Avalon
Camera Press Rota 04604421. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince William attend the Garter Ceremony at Windsor Castle.,Image: 882605140, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Camera Press Rota, *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: David Dyson / Avalon 
Ms Julia Longbottom, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duchess of Edinburgh and H.E. Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone make their way along the East Gallery to attend the State Banquet for Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako of Japan at Buckingham Palace, London, as part of their state visit to the UK. Picture date: Tuesday June 25, 2024. . NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS,Image: 884750370, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon 
The Duchess of Edinburgh attends the Order of the Thistle Service at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, for the installation to the Order of the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Baroness Black of Strome LT, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws LT and Sir Geoff Palmer KT. Picture date: Wednesday July 3, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story ROYAL Scotland. Photo credit should read: Andrew,Image: 886930922, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Andrew Milligan / Avalon
State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, held at Westminster Abbey, London. Featuring: Meghan Duchess of Sussex and Sophie Countess of Wessex Where: London, England, United Kingdom When: 19 Sep 2022 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com/Cover Images **North America Rights Only** 
State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, held at Westminster Abbey, London. Featuring: Sophie Countess of Wessex and Meghan Duchess of Sussex Where: London, England, United Kingdom When: 19 Sep 2022 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com/Cover Images **North America Rights Only** 
The State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II Featuring: Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle Where: London, United Kingdom When: 19 Sep 2022 Credit: Sadak Souici/Le Pictorium/Cover Images **ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE UK**
The Duchess of Edinburgh travels along The Mall to the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, central London, to celebrate King Charles III’s official birthday. Featuring: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh Where: London, United Kingdom When: 15 Jun 2024 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY** 
Arrivals at day three of Royal Ascot races Featuring: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh Where: Ascot, United Kingdom When: 20 Jun 2024 Credit: Cover Images 
Arrivals at day three of Royal Ascot races. Featuring: Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh Where: Ascot, United Kingdom When: 20 Jun 2024 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmcW9pZoJ0e8OumqGdo6istLvPoaCeq4%2Bpsq68xKuYpp2eqayqv76vnKuxj5m2p7LEq5ynrI%2BpvKC%2FxKWdZqeSqLK0v8Sdlqadl52ur3s%3D