The royal family can seem to be forever feuding. Between the usual gossip and deliberate snubs among the younger generation, a 2026 book by Charles Spencer, brother of the late Princess Diana, reopened old wounds. “Swan Song” reported King Charles III’s reportedly cold remarks soon after Diana’s death. Yet one member of the household has stayed out of the mud, and the king, by several accounts, has noticed.
A PR executive who learned from early mistakes
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, worked as a public relations executive before she married Prince Edward. She has been involved with him since 1993. Soon after the wedding she was caught up in scandals of her own, and the lesson she took from them was never to repeat the errors. Since then she has kept attention on her charity work.
Former royal aide Alisa Anderson-Cole told the Daily Mail that Sophie’s real gift is mixing serious causes with humanity and humour. “She is not afraid to show her fun side while promoting incredibly important issues like gender equality, education and nature,” Anderson-Cole said.
Royal author Ingrid Seward told Hello! that Sophie was reportedly Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite daughter-in-law because she never pushes herself forward or wants to make things about her.
The king’s safe pair of hands
Royal Editor Rebecca English of the Daily Mail wrote: “I know the King sees Sophie very much as a safe pair of hands and her growing closeness with the Princess of Wales will only go to strengthen the family in the future.” Sophie is also reportedly someone Prince William turns to for advice, including on his rift with Prince Harry.
The magazine Closer reported that Charles asked both Sophie and his sister Anne, the Princess Royal, to try to get the two brothers to mend fences. An insider told the magazine: “No doubt Sophie will be softer about it than Anne, who’s never afraid to tell it like it is.”
The timing matters. Charles, 77, was diagnosed with cancer, Buckingham Palace announced on February 5, 2024, after a procedure for an enlarged prostate. He is still being treated for the unidentified form of the disease. He has kept a busy year, including the Zoological Society of London’s 200th anniversary on July 9 and trips to Washington and Bermuda in early May.
Then came the Royal Ballet School’s 100th anniversary celebrations in early October. The king is the school’s patron, and Page Six reported that he was noticeably absent, which unsettled London society. Royal insiders whispered that his calendar is being quietly trimmed. Engagements committed to months ago are reportedly being reshuffled so that Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate and others can step in. Lady Sarah Chatto, president of the school, represented the Crown at the gala.
Charles and Camilla are still due to visit Antigua, the Bahamas and Guyana on an eight-day trip starting October 27.
Dancing in her “aeroplane clothes”
Sophie’s September 2026 trip to Zambia showed the instinct at work. Her luggage never arrived, and she had only the clothes she travelled in. She was photographed dancing with a group of women in those “aeroplane clothes”, according to Hello!, while British tabloids led with the William and Harry feud.
“Once again she has proved what a huge asset she is to the King and the monarchy,” Anderson-Cole told the Daily Mail.
Sources
- Amid Royal Rift, King Charles Sees This Royal As A 'Safe Pair Of Hands' For The Family
- Charles III
- Exclusive | King Charles skips major high-culture event, sparking society concern
Photo: NZ Defence Force (CC BY 4.0)
