Lady Frederick Windsor, also known as Sophie Winkleman, has revealed that her royal family would never stand in the way of her acting career. The actress, who is a member of the Royal Family through marriage, has appeared in shows like Two and a Half Men, Peep Show, Death in Paradise, and This is Going to Hurt.
Career and royal connections
Sophie Lara Winkleman was born in Primrose Hill, London on August 5, 1980, to Cindy Black and Barry Winkleman. She is not the only actress to have married into the Royal Family, but unlike Meghan Markle, she did not give up her career after her wedding.
Lady Frederick Windsor, as she is officially known, joined the late Queen on Buckingham Palace's balcony several times and is regularly pictured at royal events. She made a name for herself in roles such as Big Suze in Peep Show, Zoey in Two and a Half Men, and the elder version of Susan Pevensie in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Marriage and family life
She met Lord Frederick Windsor, son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, and the couple married at Hampton Court Palace in front of all the senior royals. Her royal name is Lady Frederick Windsor, but she continues to use her maiden name in her acting career.
In a 2020 interview with The Times, she said: “I’ve been incredibly welcomed with open arms by all of them. I haven’t had a single negative experience. The Queen’s been wonderful, Prince Charles has been wonderful, Prince William’s been heaven. They’d never tell me off at all if I wanted to play some [racy] role. Everyone’s looked after me. Oh God, please don’t make me sound too gushing.”
Life in the US and return to UK
After marrying, Sophie and Frederick moved to the US so she could further pursue her acting career. While living in California, their first daughter, Maud Elizabeth Daphne Marina Windsor, was born in 2013. As the 53rd in line to the throne, Maud is named after several royal ancestors, including Queen Maud of Norway and the late Queen Elizabeth.
The couple later returned to the UK and welcomed their second daughter, Isabella Alexandra May Windsor, at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on January 16, 2016.
