It has after all been printed why Duchess Sophie selected to not attend Princess Diana’s funeral.
The Duchess of Edinburgh, 60, who on the time used to be identified merely as Sophie Rhys-Jones, used to be significantly absent on 6 September 1997, as tens of millions collected in London and tens of millions extra watched international.
Even though Sophie used to be no longer but married to Prince Edward, now 61, the couple had already been courting significantly for a while. Her absence from the funeral sparked interest amongst royal watchers.
Duchess Sophie’s considerate reason why
In a brand new biography titled Sophie: Saving the Royal Circle of relatives, writer Sean Smith claims Sophie ignored the funeral out of sensitivity to the grieving public.
In step with Smith, Sophie believed her bodily resemblance to Diana would possibly have led to additional misery to mourners lining the procession direction.
© Victoria Jones/Shutterstock1. PR woman
Sophie constructed a a success profession earlier than marrying Prince Edward. She labored for Capitol Radio and later introduced her personal public members of the family company, RJH Public Members of the family, which she ran along with her industry spouse for 5 years.
2. Canine lover
Sophie is a well known canine lover and is the shopper of the Information Canine for the Blind Affiliation. In January 2025, she visited the organisation’s coaching centre and had lovable pet cuddles with a nine-week-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel pet.
3. Bahamas proposal
Prince Edward proposed to Sophie after 5 years of courting all the way through a vacation to the Bahamas in 1998. He introduced her with a two-carat oval diamond, flanked with two-heart formed gems.
4. Stepping up
Because the Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie is a full-time operating member of the royal circle of relatives. She has augmented her tasks because the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped again from royal tasks and Prince Andrew relinquished his legitimate roles. Along this, she balances being a loyal mum to her two youngsters: Woman Louise Windsor, 21, and James, Earl of Wessex, 17.
5. Princess wedding ceremony
Her 1999 wedding ceremony to Prince Edward used to be low-key however nonetheless attracted 200 million TV audience. Her silk get dressed used to be embellished with 325,000 crystals and pearls, and her Anthemion tiara used to be decided on from the past due Queen’s non-public jewelry assortment.
Smith wrote: “She (Sophie) had an evident and cheap excuse: a pal on the palace defined, ‘Sophie made up our minds it could be too provoking for the gang if she went.'”
The writer endured: “She’s neatly mindful that she seems like Princess Diana from a distance and made her resolution in a being concerned and considerate approach. The Royal Circle of relatives totally supported her.”
Similarities to Princess Diana
© Tim Graham Picture Library by way of GetOn the time, Sophie bore a noticeable resemblance to Diana. Each ladies had brief, blonde hairstyles and identical facial options, together with their placing blue eyes.
Whilst their outward appearances matched, insiders recommend the 2 ladies have been very other in persona and magnificence. In step with more than one studies, they didn’t all the time see eye-to-eye.
Tensions between Sophie and Diana
© Getty PicturesRoyal writer Andrew Morton up to now described an uncomfortable come upon between Sophie and Diana in his e book Diana: In Pursuit of Love.
Morton claimed Diana as soon as dissatisfied Sophie at a royal dinner, inflicting her to go away the development in tears. He wrote that Diana had made her “disdain transparent” via “staring intensely at her” all through the night time.
Regardless of those claims, Sophie herself hasn’t ever spoken publicly intimately about her dating with the past due Princess.
Sophie’s dating with Prince Edward
© Getty PicturesVia 1997, Sophie were in a major dating with Edward for a while. The couple first met in 1987, started courting in 1993, and married in June 1999.
Through the years, Sophie has grow to be a key member of the Royal Circle of relatives, in particular valued for her dependable presence and reticence. She stocks two youngsters, Woman Louise Windsor, 21, and James, Earl of Wessex, 17, with Edward.
Diana’s funeral remembered
© Princess Diana ArchivePrincess Diana’s funeral stays one of the vital most-watched televised occasions of all time, with an estimated 2.5 billion audience international.
Many bear in mind the poignant sight of younger Princes William and Harry, then elderly simply 15 and 12, bravely strolling at the back of their mom’s coffin.
Crowds coated London’s streets to mention good-bye to the cherished princess, leaving tributes and plant life out of doors Kensington Palace.
Sophie’s present function within the royal circle of relatives
© GettyThese days, Duchess Sophie is considered one of the vital circle of relatives’s maximum depended on participants, frequently representing King Charles, 76, at royal engagements.
Royal mavens continuously reward her calm and secure presence. She is understood for quietly supporting her husband Edward, now the Duke of Edinburgh, in his public tasks.
Sophie’s charitable paintings comprises advocating for problems comparable to ladies’s rights, removing avoidable blindness, and selling psychological well being consciousness.
Taking a look ahead
© GettyEven though Sophie by no means attended Diana’s funeral, her considerate clarification unearths sensitivity and consciousness that experience earned her fashionable recognize.
The Duchess is still central to the trendy Royal Circle of relatives, serving as a valued adviser and supporter of senior royals, in particular King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Her quiet dignity and considerate approach have helped her navigate difficult instances inside the Royal Circle of relatives. Sophie’s fresh revelation highlights her ongoing compassion and attention against the general public.
For royal enthusiasts, Sophie’s considerate resolution to steer clear of provoking mourners provides additional perception into her persona and willpower to her royal function.
