{"id":176759,"date":"2025-11-12T15:11:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T15:11:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/176759\/"},"modified":"2025-11-12T15:11:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T15:11:10","slug":"i-married-into-the-royal-family-the-lives-the-firm-lead-are-total-hell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/176759\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;I married into the Royal Family &#8211; the lives the Firm lead are total hell&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Sophie Winkleman, the wife of the son of Prince and Princess of Michael of Kent, and star of Peep Show, has opened up about her royal relatives<\/p>\n<p>12:37, 12 Nov 2025Updated 12:38, 12 Nov 2025<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1_GettyImages-115916008.jpg\" alt=\"The Royal Family on the Buckingham Palace balcony\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>The Royal Family on the Buckingham Palace balcony(Image: 2011 Indigo)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">An actress who married into the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/royals\/\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Royal Family<\/a> has opened up about what the royals are really like &#8211; and why their lives are &#8220;total hell&#8221;. <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/sophie-winkleman\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Sophie Winkleman<\/a> is married to Lord Fredrick Windsor, the son of Prince and Princess of Michael of Kent &#8211; and is also known as Big Suze from the hit <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/channel-4\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Channel 4<\/a> comedy Peep Show.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">The mum-of-two, who is also the half-sister of Traitors and <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/strictly-come-dancing\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Strictly Come Dancing<\/a> host Claudia Winkleman, has continued her acting career and is set to appear in new <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/bbc\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">BBC<\/a> drama Wild Cherry. But she also is a regular at <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/royals\/\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Royal Family<\/a> events, attending the likes of <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/king-charles-iii\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">King Charles<\/a> &#8216; Coronation and the Firm&#8217;s annual <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/christmas\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Christmas<\/a> lunch in the run-up to December 25.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/royals\/king-charles-emotional-reunion-veteran-36232309\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36232309\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">King Charles&#8217; emotional reunion with veteran who moved him to tears amid cancer fight<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/royals\/kate-middleton-suddenly-halts-plans-36229308\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36229308\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kate Middleton suddenly halts plans in surprise gesture that leaves fan &#8216;shaking&#8217;<\/a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1_Duchess-of-Kent-Funeral.jpg\" alt=\"Lord Frederick Windsor and Sophie Winkleman arrives at Westminster Cathedral\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Sophie with husband Lord Frederick Windsor at the funeral of his aunt the Duchess of Kent (Image: Ian Vogler \/ Daily Mirror)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">And in a new interview with The Times, she has revealed what she has learned about the likes of the King and the Prince and <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/Kate-middleton\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Princess of Wales<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">She explained: &#8220;The more I get to know the royal family, the more I get that their lives are total hell and that level of unasked-for fame is a form of torture.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">&#8220;None of them went on Pop Idol or something to be famous. To have that sort of blinding spotlight in your face from when you\u2019re born, not knowing quite whom you can trust, not knowing if someone\u2019s going to betray you, people writing lies about you the whole time, is just brutal. I feel for them all. I don\u2019t think a life with that much scrutiny and pressure is remotely healthy, but they have no choice.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">In the same interview, the This Is Going To Hurt star, also mounted a defence for her royal in-laws against the negativity they often face.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_GettyImages-2221450750.jpg\" alt=\"Sophie and King Charles at Royal Ascot \" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Sophie and King Charles at Royal Ascot (Image: Getty)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">She added: &#8220;The senior royals work really hard with thousands of charities in Britain and around the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/world-news\/\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">world<\/a>, behind the scenes as well as front-facing. There\u2019s no getting away from the fact they add huge prestige and heft to whatever cause they\u2019re supporting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">&#8220;The King\u2019s Trust is the greatest engineer for social mobility in Britain. Princess Anne does nearly 500 engagements per year. The Duchess of Edinburgh has just come back from Sudan, meeting surgeons who operate on violently raped toddlers \u2014 that is traumatic, serious work. I truly think my communist grandfather would be convinced by my arguments in favour of the royal family.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">It comes after Sophie has previously said she was welcomed into the clan with open arms, particularly by King Charles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">She previously said: &#8220;I&#8217;ve been incredibly welcomed with open arms by all of them&#8230; They&#8217;d never tell me off at all if I wanted to play some [racy] role.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">After marrying Lord Frederick in 2009, the couple moved to the US so that Sophie could further pursue her acting career and Maud, 12, was born while they were living in California.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2_uktv_14134311818.jpg\" alt=\"Sophie as Big Suze in Peep Show \" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Sophie as Big Suze in Peep Show (Image: Channel 4)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">The couple later moved back to the UK and welcomed their second daughter Isabella, 9, back in 2016. Sophie became the new royal patron of Children&#8217;s Surgery Foundation and later became the first female patron of School-Home Support.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"mirror\">She was a guest at the 2011 wedding of William and Kate, as well as at the 2019 wedding of her sister-in-law Lady Gabriella Windsor.<\/p>\n<p>Get the inside scoop on the monarchy with Mirror Royal<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">WHATSAPP GROUP: <\/strong>Be first to get the biggest royal bombshells and exclusives to your phone by joining our <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/crnch.it\/rH4Y3Drf\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Royal WhatsApp here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you\u2019re curious, you can read our<a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reachplc.com\/site-services\/privacy-policy\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" Privacy NoticeLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"> Privacy Notice<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">NEWSLETTER: <\/strong>Or sign up to the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/newsletter-preference-centre\/?view=Solus&amp;mailingListId=4b0cbed5-3f37-4486-86b2-57afe268814e&amp;utm_source=solusarticle\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Mirror&#8217;s Royal newsletter here<\/strong><\/a> to get all the biggest royal news and exclusive pictures, straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sophie Winkleman, the wife of the son of Prince and Princess of Michael of Kent, and star of&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":176760,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[268],"tags":[434,18,117,19,17,5093,100373],"class_list":{"0":"post-176759","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-celebrities","8":"tag-celebrities","9":"tag-eire","10":"tag-entertainment","11":"tag-ie","12":"tag-ireland","13":"tag-royal-family","14":"tag-sophie-winkleman"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/115537372124471737","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=176759"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176759\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/176760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=176759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=176759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=176759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}