Duchess of Edinburgh Sophie Wessex shares 'frustrations' after marrying into Royal Family

The Duchess has been described as the royal family's 'secret weapon'
-Credit:PA


Sophie Wessex, the Duchess of Edinburgh, has revealed her 'frustration' as she learned to accept the limits of what she could actually do after marrying into Royal Family.

As PR professional Sophie Rhys-Jones, the Duchess – who turns 60 next week – had been accustomed to speaking her mind when it came to managing corporate communications.

But since marrying Prince Edward in 1999, she's had to become much more guarded: “Certainly it took me a while to find my feet,” Sophie admitted, adding: “The frustration was that I had to reduce my expectations of what I could actually do.”

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Sophie married the late Queen's youngest son in 1999
Sophie married the late Queen's youngest son in 1999 -Credit:PA

Sophie says she instinctively wanted to offer sound business advice to charities, while what they expected from her was to simply 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.”

But while Sophie has had to curb her natural inclination to tell people how to run their business, she has risen to become an essential part of The Firm, and has more than once been described as the Royal Family’s “Secret Weapon.” Woman Magazine reports that the public have "really taken her into their hearts."

Sophie and her husband, Prince Edward, reportedly have a very good working relationship with Prince William and Princess Catherine, and the future king is said to be “eager” for his aunt and uncle to play a more prominent role in public life when he eventually takes the throne.

Sophie and Edward are said to be increasingly close to the future King and Queen
Sophie and Edward are said to be increasingly close to the future King and Queen -Credit:Getty Images

Royal expert Ingrid Seward says that the Duchess is so effective as a royal because she has not only learned to accept the limitations of her role, she’s also a team player: “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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But although Sophie apparently lives a life of quiet conformity, toeing the line when it comes to her royal duties, she still retains a rebellious streak.

While her recent visit to war-torn Ukraine was officially rubber-stamped by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, a source told The Times that behind the senes, the truth was quite different: “The government tried to stop her going to Ukraine, but she wasn’t having any of it.”

The Duchess reportedly plans to visit several other conflict zones in the future, no matter what officials say about it.