Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, reportedly has another reason to be delighted. Following her elevation from Countess of Wessex to Duchess of Edinburgh, a change in royal protocol means the 61-year-old is no longer expected to curtsy to Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.
Over the years, Sophie has earned a reputation as one of the most trusted and low-profile members of the royal family, often praised for her dedication to charitable work and her close relationship with both Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III. Her new title reflects her increased prominence within the monarchy and places her in a higher position in the royal hierarchy, which in turn affects formal greetings and ceremonial traditions.
Prince Harry and Meghan, who wed in 2018, now reside in Montecito, California, with their children Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4. Since stepping back from their royal roles and relocating to the United States, the couple has presented a united and supportive partnership.
In April 2025, Meghan reflected on her early days with Harry during an appearance on “The Jamie Kern Lima Show.”
“Probably at the beginning of us dating, when everything was in code,” she shared. “People didn’t know we were dating for, talk about memory lane, so long ago. I mean, it’ll be our seven-year wedding anniversary soon. I couldn’t tell anyone who I was dating, and who was keeping (the secret), so I think we were just on a letter basis.”
The duchess revealed that the habit of calling each other “M” and “H” never went away, saying, “It stuck,” warmly adding, “I love nicknames.”
Meghan also spoke about her admiration for Harry.
“He’s just out there, just constant, like he’s just going to do whatever he can to make sure that our family is safe and protected and we’re uplifted and still make time for date nights. He’s also a fox. If you haven’t noticed, my husband’s very, very handsome. But his heart is even more beautiful,” she gushed.
Sophie’s elevation to duchess has apparently been well-received.
“Sophie is relieved,” a close friend told reporters, according to Hello! Magazine.
“She no longer has to curtsey to someone in the family who has not only left royal duties but has spent the past three years criticising the institution that Sophie works so hard to support,” the source continued.
Previously, Meghan, 43, ranked higher than Sophie in the royal order of precedence due to her marriage to Prince Harry, 40. That changed when Sophie, formerly the Countess of Wessex, became the Duchess of Edinburgh, a transition she described as “quite a big moment.”
The Duchess title has historic significance, once belonging to both Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Camilla. Sophie first met Prince Edward in 1987 after moving to London to work at Capital Radio. Their friendship eventually blossomed into romance, and the couple wed in 1999.
Since joining the royal family, Sophie has been known for her loyalty to King Charles, 76, and her dedication to royal duties.
In early July 2025, author Sean Smith claimed in his biography “Sophie: Saving the Royal Family” that Sophie may have skipped Princess Diana’s 1997 funeral for a thoughtful reason.
“She had an obvious and reasonable excuse: a friend at the palace said, ‘Sophie decided it would be too upsetting for the crowd if she went,’” Smith wrote.
“She’s well aware that she looks like Princess Diana from a distance and made her decision in a caring and thoughtful way,” he said, adding, “The royal family fully supported.”
Diana and Sophie shared similar features, blonde hair and striking blue eyes. In the 1990s, Sophie addressed the comparison herself, per Daily Express.
“I don’t deny that we do look alike. But I couldn’t ever compete with Diana’s image,” she said, adding, “I’m not Diana.”
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