Strict royal protocol change Duchess Sophie is 'relieved' about since getting new title

Sophie, the Dutchess of Sussex, a middle-class girl from a village in Kent has always had the happy knack of getting on with people. Reportedly viewed by the Queen as The Firm's safest pair of hands, Sophie moved to London working for Capital Radio after completing a secretarial course.

Prince Edward met Sophie for the first time at Capital Radio in 1987, through Sophie's friend whom Edward was dating at the time. It was not until several years later when the Queen's youngest son made their relationship official. Now a long-standing Royal Sophie is extremely hardworking - being the patron of more than 70 charities and organisations, and undertakes over 200 engagements every year.

Often heralded as King Charles' 'secret weapon' it was an incredibly poignant moment when the former Countess of Wessex became a Duchess in 2023 to mark Prince Edward's 59th birthday. Sophie therefore joined an esteemed list of regal women to have been named the Duchess of Edinburgh, including Queen Elizabeth and Queen Camilla.

In a recent interview, Sophie said that the change in title 'felt like quite a big moment' because of its connection to the late queen.

But according to friends of Sophie, she was also "relieved" that her move up the royal ranks means she no longer needs to curtsey to Meghan Markle.

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, used to be ahead of Duchess Sophie in the Royal Family pecking order.

A friend of the couple said: "Sophie is relieved. She no longer has to curtsey to someone in the family who has not only left Royal duties but has spent the past three years criticising the institution that Sophie works so hard to support."

Meghan was reportedly offered help getting used to her royal role by Duchess Sophie, with the late Queen reportedly believing she could be a perfect mentor for Meghan.

But according to royal author Gyles Brandreth, Meghan "wasn't interested" in receiving advice from Sophie as she had Harry.

Hetold the Daily Mail show Palace Confidential in 2022: "The Queen wanted Meghan to make a success of the marriage and of her new role, and indeed did everything that she could to encourage that.

"I think she suggested to her that Sophie Wessex, who certainly was a favourite with her, and had been through it because she had married into the Royal Family, and married Prince Edward, might help her, be a sort of mentor.

"She (Meghan) felt she had Harry, she didn't need to be offered a mentor."