Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, is happy with her new royal title and one big change that comes with it. Since being promoted from Countess of Wessex to Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie, 60, reportedly no longer needs to curtsy to Meghan Markle.
A friend of Sophie said she’s relieved because Meghan is no longer a working royal and has been critical of the royal family in recent years. Before Sophie’s title changed, Meghan outranked her due to her marriage to Prince Harry.
Sophie has described becoming Duchess of Edinburgh as a big moment. She received the title earlier this year in honor of her husband Prince Edward’s 61st birthday.
Sophie met Edward in 1987 after moving to London to work at Capital Radio. They were friends for years before getting married in 1999. Since then, Sophie has been a loyal member of the royal family and a strong supporter of King Charles.
There were also claims that Sophie skipped Princess Diana’s funeral because she looked too similar to her. A palace friend said it would have been upsetting for the crowd, and Sophie made the decision with care. Both Sophie and Diana had blonde hair and blue eyes. Sophie once admitted in the 1990s that while she resembled Diana, she could never compete with her image.
Meanwhile, Meghan and Prince Harry stepped down from royal duties in 2020. The couple now lives in Montecito, California, with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.
Meghan has spoken about the early days of her relationship with Harry, saying they used the initials “M” and “H” to keep things private. She also said Harry continues to protect and support their family and called him handsome with a beautiful heart.
