Royal mentor who secretly shops for Kate Middleton’s jeans & has been a ‘tower of strength’ during her cancer treatment
KATE Middleton is said to have a “tower of strength” in Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and is being supported through her cancer diagnosis.
A royal biographer has claimed that the two women have developed an “unbreakable bond” with Prince Edward’s wife, 59, and they are often left in “fits of giggles.”
The Princess of Wales, 42, bravely revealed in March that she is being treated for cancer, following her planned abdominal surgery in January.
Royal biographer Claudia Joseph told Fabulous: “I’m sure that Sophie has been a tower of strength through Kate’s cancer diagnosis and will be there for her at the end of the phone whenever she wants a chat.
“They are incredibly close and live only 11 miles from each other – Kate in Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Home Park and Sophie at Bagshot Park.”
Royal mentor
When Kate married Prince William in 2011, Sophie became “something of a mentor” to her, according to Claudia.
She added: “She is 17 years older than Kate and has seen and done it all before.
“Interestingly, while Meghan rebuffed Sophie’s offer to mentor her on life as a Royal, Kate gracefully jumped at The Queen’s suggestion – she saw her as a ‘solid and trustworthy member of The Firm – and the women have become close as Kate adapts to her new role as Princess of Wales.
“She has found that Sophie is a true confidante and sounding board and they have developed a mutual respect and an unbreakable bond.”
Following the death of Prince Philip, the late Queen even referred to dependable Kate and Sophie as her “strength and stay.”
Royal expert Penny Junor said at the time: “She can always rely on Sophie and Kate.”
‘Cheeky humour’
One thing that binds the two women together is their “sense of humour” and they have an “enormous amount in common”, claims Claudia.
She added: “Whether they are the Trooping the Colour ceremony or Royal Ascot, they are often pictured in each other’s company in fits of laughter.
“At Royal Ascot, in 2017, they showed they shared a sense of fun when Sophie leant forward to kiss Kate on the cheek and was pitched forward towards her, leaving the pair in fits of giggles.”
Meanwhile, when the pair watched the rowing action during the London 2012 Paralympic Games, body language expert Judi James observed the pair to have a “naughty, fun and cheeky” friendship.
Sporting royals
Another thing they have in common is their love of sport and both have a gruelling fitness regime.
Sophie is said to swim, go to Pilates classes, work out as a cross-trainer at home, run three miles twice a week, ride, skis and is “cycling mad”.
Claudia pointed out that she even trained at the Royal Military Academy and “took part in a long-distance cycle challenge from Holyrood, Edinburgh, to Buckingham Palace, a distance of 445 miles, on her swish £999.99 carbon lightweight bike, designed by Olympic cyclist Christ Boardman”.
She adde: “Kate, meanwhile, skis, plays tennis and hockey, swims, runs, sails and cycles and is notoriously competitive – she is often photographed challenging husband William.”
Sophie and Prince Edward's royal romance
When Sophie met Edward in 1987 she was a PR for Capital Radio, but it was six years before they started dating.
They then began a romance in earnest, but went to great lengths to avoid photographers, especially when Sophie began staying overnight at Edward’s three-room apartment in Buckingham Palace. When calling Sophie at her office, the Prince would use the name Richard — not that he fooled her colleagues for long.
Six years after they started going out, Edward proposed, with a £105,000 ring from Crown jewellers Garrard.
Starting a family was not straightforward. In 2001 Sophie suffered an ectopic pregnancy.
In 2003, the birth of daughter Louise was similarly dramatic. The baby was a month premature and Sophie lost nine pints of blood, had a caesarean and was in hospital for 15 days. In 2007 she had another caesarean giving birth to son James.
Last summer, during the break before the second lockdown, Edward, Sophie and their children, now 17 and 13, were among the first to stay with the Queen and Philip at Balmoral, and the last to leave.
Sophie shops for Kate
The two women – who are now used to being in the public eye – also share beauty and fashion tips.
“They are both aficionados of Richard Ward’s Chelsea hair salon and even favour the same fashion designers, Emilia Wickstead, Roland Mouret and Erdem, as well as the milliner Jane Taylor”, Claudia shared.
“And Sophie has been known to shop for Kate.
“Jeans designer Donna Ida once revealed that Sophie bought her £295 black Sadie jumpsuit for herself and then asked for one for Kate.”
Interestingly, while Meghan rebuffed Sophie’s offer to mentor her on life as a Royal, Kate gracefully jumped at The Queen’s suggestion
Claudia Joseph
And behind their impeccable styles and high-profile royal engagements, the two women are also aligned on their family life at home.
Claudia added: “They are both really at home in the countryside, bringing up their children up with lots of fresh air and going for lots of dog walks.
“And they are green-fingered.
“Sophie and husband Edward have created a woodland garden at Bagshot while Kate famously created a garden for the Chelsea Flower Show.”
Sophie began a career in public relations, working for a variety of firms, including Capital Radio as well as public relations companies The Quentin Bell Organisation and MacLaurin Communications & Media.
The Countess met Prince Edward while working at Capital Radio for the first time in 1987.
Prince Edward and Sophie were married on June 19, 1999, at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle – the same location Prince Harry and Meghan chose.