Kate Middleton and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, have become close confidants. According to a royal expert, the Princess of Wales and Prince Edward‘s wife maintain a tight bond as they navigate life as mothers and working members of the royal family.
Keep reading for more on their friendship…
MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more top news
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, became a member of the royal family when she wed Prince Edward, the youngest of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s children, in 1999. When Kate Middleton married Prince William in 2011, the two became pals. “It’s sometimes hard to remember that Sophie is Catherine’s aunt by marriage … [because] they seem more like sisters,” journalist Jennie Bondsaid. “I think they have a real mutual affection and a firm friendship.”
Just like Kate Middleton, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, was an outsider who joined the royal family later in life and had to adjust to find her place within it. “Sophie has been there for Catherine from the start as a mentor and perhaps someone she can share the peculiar ups and downs of royal life with,” Jennie Bond said. “They are two women who have come from middle-class backgrounds to assume uniquely senior roles in the life of the nation.”
Jennie Bond believes that with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle out of the picture, Kate Middleton and Prince William are eager to have Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince Edward by their side. “I think William will be very grateful to have Edward and Sophie there when the time comes for him to be king,” she said. “With no Harry to lean on, he will appreciate the support of his uncle and aunt and be grateful that they are willing to bear their share of the considerable workload.”
Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, married in 1999. They share two children: Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex. Edward and Sophie reside at Bagshot Park, which is located near Kate Middleton and Prince William’s new home, Forest Lodge.