About Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie’s Wedding and Why King Charles Can Always Count on Them

Exclusive: The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have taken a more active royal role in recent years, supporting King Charles and the monarchy both at home and abroad.

duke and queen of edinburgh These are often considered some of the safest hands of the royal family, who quietly carry out their duties and are an invaluable support to the people. King Charles.

And Prince Edward And Sophie proved it again by representing Charles on a historic tour of Portugal last week to celebrate the UK’s ties with the country. The couple spent three days in Lisbon and Porto, attending a number of events that reflected issues close to their hearts, such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for Edward and women’s rights for Sophie.

The pair have enjoyed a greater public profile in recent years, especially since the likes of prince harry And meghan markle Stepped down from royal duties, allowing Edinburgh to step into the spotlight.

Away from their royal roles, Edward and Sophie seem to prefer life under the radar, away from the publicity, away from the cameras at their Bagshot Park estate in Surrey.

And royal expert Jenny Bond tells exclusively Ok! That behind closed doors, the couple is much the same as their public persona – living a relatively simple life by royal standards, with little fuss and everyday activities.

The former BBC royal correspondent said: “Edward and Sophie really are a true couple, what you see is what you get. They go about their business with as little fuss as possible – Edward was spotted walking to the Palace rather than staying in a posh car, and Sophie sometimes drives herself to engagements and is more than happy to manage her hair, make-up and clothes herself.

“Well, of course they should, I hear you say! And yes, that’s what the rest of us have to do every day, but it hasn’t always been the ‘royal’ way. You could say they’ve been doing it for a long time Prince William Recently there has been talk about being royal with a small ‘r’.

“Like many tourists (though not just ‘any tourists’), they boarded the tram in Lisbon on their trip to Portugal. But experiencing public transport may not have been the same culture shock for them as it would have been for the late Queen.

“Edward has occasionally been seen taking the Tube into London for engagements, chatting with other passengers and not expecting any special treatment.”

Edward and Sophie married in June 1999, several years after first meeting at a charity tennis event, and later this month they will celebrate their 27th wedding anniversary. The couple married in a fairytale ceremony at St George’s Chapel in Windsor – breaking the trend of royal weddings at the time, which were usually held at Westminster Abbey or St Paul’s Cathedral.

And that’s not the only way the pair have proven different from other royal couples of their age. Edward, the youngest child of the late Queen and Prince Philip, is the only of their four children not to divorce.

For Jenny, the secret of their partnership, both public and private, lies in one obvious reason – they have been best friends for over 30 years. He explained: “People will remember how Sophie was almost in tears when, ahead of her 60th birthday, she paid tribute to him publicly, saying he was ‘the best father, the most loving husband’ and ‘still my best friend’. In return, he called Sophie his ‘absolutely brilliant rock’, adding, ‘I’m incredibly lucky to have found Sophie and she’s found me.’

“They have never tried to outdo each other and their relationship has always been an equal and stable one. At royal engagements together you can see that they always look out for each other and work as a team.”

Of course her family life at home also includes her children, Lady Louise Windsor, 22, and her son James, Earl of Wessex, 18.

Their road to starting a family was rocky, with Sophie suffering from a potentially life-threatening ectopic pregnancy before experiencing a dramatic birth with Lewis, who was born prematurely.

However, both of their children, neither of whom hold HRH titles, are now looking for their own futures, with Louise soon to graduate from the University of St Andrews, where she is studying English, and James receiving A-level results this summer.

Jenny said: “Their children are now younger, they have more time for each other and their royal duties. Edward and Sophie have made it clear that they want their children to make decisions about their own future. Sophie has said that she has raised them with the expectation of earning an outside living. royal family.

“The couple deliberately chose not to become Louis and James HRH or Princess and Prince. At the age of 18 they had the option to take titles if they wanted, but neither has done so yet. And that means they have more freedom to live ‘normal’ lives and pursue their careers.”

Now, with more time to focus on their royal work, both Edward and Sophie have seen more interest in their engagements, especially the Duchess, who has earned a reputation for visiting some of the most dangerous places in the world to champion women’s rights.

And with the list of working royals becoming increasingly short and the Edinburghs, despite both being in their 60s, among the youngest members of the firm, Jenny believes her future roles are going to be more high-profile.

He said, “Since the departure of Harry and Andrew from the working royal line-up, both Edward and Sophie – as the Duchess recently admitted – have been flying a little low under the radar”.

“The media and the public are focusing more on their roles and their work. Although they are not naturally limelight seekers, I think they should be quietly pleased that their busy working lives are now getting more publicity and appreciation.

“I think both Edward and Sophie will remain important figures in the future of the monarchy. They seem more like cousins to William and Catherine than uncle and aunt.

“Sophie in particular has a warm and affectionate relationship with William, with them making occasional joint appearances – for example, they were seen having a lot of fun and laughter together at the Royal Cornwall Show last year. And this bodes well for the future of the monarchy under King William.”

During their time in Portugal last week, the couple enjoyed a ride on Lisbon’s iconic yellow tram, hosted a garden party at the UK ambassador’s residence and received one of the highest honors in Porto when they were given the keys to the city.

Sophie gave a powerful speech during a NATO event in Lisbon, making an impassioned appeal to end conflict-related sexual violence against women, while Edward also met young people attending the International Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Jenny said: “Every time I’ve met Edward or Sophie, I’ve been impressed by how insightful, tasteful and interesting they both are. Years ago they each tried to build careers outside the royal family and for both of them, it ended in disaster.

“Since then, I think he has learned to enjoy his work and has found satisfaction in being a real support to the king during some difficult times.

“They can also be proud that with Sophie’s work on topics such as the abuse of women in conflict zones and the continued success of Edward’s Duke of Edinburgh Award, they are making a difference to many people’s lives.”