Prince Edward’s wife Duchess Sophie has been named Queen Elizabeth’s closest royal confidante, according to a new claim.
Royal experts went on to claim that Andrew was not the late Queen’s favorite son.
The late monarch reportedly developed an unusually strong bond with his daughter-in-law, Duchess Sophie, that spanned more than two decades.
King Charles’ mother breathed her last in September 2022, at the age of 96, after a record 70-year reign. She left behind a vast royal legacy and decades of fascination with her private relationships.
Royal commentators and historians now suggest that Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, 61, held a unique position of trust within the royal household.
The relationship is said to have developed after Sophie married Edward in 1999 and strengthened over years of discreet service to the Crown.
A palace insider said the bond between the two women was unlike almost any other relationship within the family.
They revealed: “Of all the women who married into the royal family, Sophie held a particularly special place in the Queen’s affections. The only woman who arguably had a deeper personal connection to Elizabeth was her daughter, Princess Anne.
The source continues: “What developed between Elizabeth and Sophie went far beyond the usual relationship between a sovereign and a daughter-in-law. Over the years, it became a true friendship based on trust, loyalty and mutual respect.
Elizabeth came to greatly enjoy Sophie’s company and often found her presence reassuring during difficult family times and demanding periods of royal life.
Sophie was apparently the only one the queen could speak to openly, someone whose judgment she respected and whose discretion she never doubted.
She was not just another family member performing official duties: she became one of the monarch’s closest confidants and most trusted sources of support.
Many people within royal circles also regard Sophie as one of the most important figures in the Queen’s inner circle during the final decades of her reign.
She could just enjoy the conversation, the company, and the sense of normalcy that Sophie brought. Sophie never tried to impress the monarch or gain favor. She was simply being herself, and that authenticity resonated deeply with Elizabeth.
