Duchess Sophie has been praised as a steady influence for King Charles with a former royal butler describing Prince Edward’s wife as one of the most dependable members of the Royal Family.
Sophie has become one of the more active working royals in recent years, carrying out a substantial number of official engagements while supporting causes across a wide range of areas.
According to figures cited in the report, she completed 235 engagements in 2025, placing her fourth among members of the Royal Family for the number of official duties undertaken that year.
Speaking to GB News on behalf of Heart Bingo Online, former royal butler Grant Harrold described Sophie as a “firm favourite” within the Royal Family and praised her work ethic and reliability.
Harrold said Sophie had developed a reputation as a hardworking member of the institution after years of supporting charitable causes and using her position to highlight issues important to her.
He also compared her qualities with those of Princess Anne, describing Sophie as the “next generation’s Princess Anne” because of what he sees as their shared commitment to getting on with their responsibilities.
According to Harrold, Sophie has also maintained a particularly strong relationship with the wider Royal Family, including the late Queen Elizabeth II, whom he said admired the Duchess.
Harrold, who said he first met Sophie in 1999, recalled her relationship with the family as being particularly strong and suggested that her standing within the monarchy has grown considerably over the years.
He claimed that Sophie has increasingly become a “steady influence” around King Charles, working consistently in the background rather than seeking attention for herself.
“She’s always working hard in the background as a reliable constant,” Harrold said, adding that he believed this was precisely the type of support the Royal Family needed during a period of pressure.
The former royal butler also described Sophie and Charles as having a relationship similar to that of a brother and sister, although this is his personal characterization rather than an official description of their relationship.
Harrold further praised what he called Sophie’s ability to remain composed during difficult circumstances, comparing her approach with the late Queen’s reputation for maintaining a calm public presence.
“She will always just get on with the job,” he said, while comparing Sophie’s qualities with those of Princess Anne, another senior royal known for maintaining a demanding schedule.
The comparison with Anne reflects the increasingly important role Sophie has taken within the working Royal Family, particularly as the number of senior working royals has changed in recent years.
Harrold believes Sophie’s importance could extend beyond Charles’s reign, predicting that she will become an important ally for Prince William when he eventually becomes King.
He described the Duchess as a potential “matriarch” of the Royal Family and a “vital asset” to the future King, although such future roles have not been formally announced by the Palace.
For now, Sophie continues to carry out her official duties alongside Prince Edward, while maintaining close relationships with other members of the Royal Family.
Harrold’s comments offer a positive assessment of Sophie’s position within the monarchy, but his descriptions of her as Charles’s “steady influence” and a future key ally to William should be understood as his personal view rather than an official Palace assessment.
