The Duchess of Edinburgh had a blunt response when asked about filling the void left by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. When questioned if she and Prince Edward would be stepping up their royal duties following Harry and Meghan's exit in 2020, Sophie replied: "What did people think we were doing beforehand?"
The comment was first revealed by royal expert Katie Nicholl in her 2022 book, The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth's Legacy and the Future of the Crown. Nicholl wrote that Sophie is carving a more 'ordinary' and 'normal' path for the royal family, adding that if the price is less attention, "it is a price worth paying."
It is not the only time Sophie has addressed the Sussexes' departure. Following Harry and Meghan's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, she and Edward made a cheeky remark. When asked about the interview by The Telegraph, Edward said, "Oprah, who?" while Sophie added with a laugh, "What interview?"
Sophie, who married Edward in 1999 and has two children, Lady Louise and James Earl of Wessex, has been a member of the Royal Family for nearly 26 years. Despite her low-key approach, she has handled a significant workload. She previously said she hopes the Sussexes "will be happy" and noted that the royals "all try to help any new members of the family."
