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The Duchess of Edinburgh has described assuming her title as "emotional", revealing it felt like stepping into "quite large shoes" previously worn by the late Queen. Sophie discussed her royal role and the significance of her title change during a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina this week.
The duchess was formerly the Countess of Wessex but became the Duchess of Edinburgh in 2023 when King Charles handed her husband Edward the Duke of Edinburgh title on his 59th birthday. The decision honoured their late father's wishes and recognised Edward's commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award youth scheme.
"Quite large shoes to fill"
Speaking to the Mirror during her visit to mark the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide, Sophie explained the weight of her new role. She said the change "felt like quite a big moment" because Queen Elizabeth II had previously held the same title in the early years of her marriage.
"First of all it was quite large shoes to fill because not as many of the population alive today will remember but the Queen was Duchess of Edinburgh for the first few years when she and my father-in-law first married," Sophie said. "For me, it was quite an emotional thing to sort of step into her shoes, it felt like quite a big moment."
Supporting the King's work
The duchess emphasised that her primary role remains supporting King Charles, just as she previously supported the Queen. She explained that being away from the "front and centre role" allows her and Edward flexibility to explore personal interests whilst remaining available for royal duties.
Sophie addressed being described as the royal family's "secret weapon", saying she likes to "fly under the radar". "It's all very well being a secret weapon but if no one knows, maybe it's too secret," she joked, calling it a "backhanded compliment".
Changing royal responsibilities
The duchess acknowledged the evolving nature of her role within the monarchy. "I don't see myself in a frontline position per se, that said admittedly there are fewer working members of the family these days so I suppose more and more I'm becoming less secretive," she said.
"I just wonder what they are going to describe me as next," Sophie added, reflecting on her increasing visibility within the royal family.
Representing the Crown abroad
During her Bosnia visit, Sophie met mothers of genocide victims and delivered a message from the King expressing his sadness at not being there personally. The King said he was "most touched and grateful to be able to share these words as we pay our respects".
The visit commemorated the Srebrenica Genocide of July 11, 1995, when more than 8,000 men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb forces during the break-up of former Yugoslavia. The massacre remains Europe's worst atrocity since the Second World War.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
