KATE Middleton is said to have a “tower of strength” in Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who has supported the princess during her cancer diagnosis.
A royal biographer claimed that the two women developed an “unbreakable bond” with Prince Edward’s wife, 59, and they often go into “laughing fits”.
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The Princess of Wales42, bravely revealed in March that she is being treated for cancer, following abdominal surgery planned for January.
Royal biographer Claudia Joseph told Fabulous: “I’m sure Sophie has been a tower of strength during Kate’s cancer diagnosis and will be by her side at the end of the phone whenever she wants to talk.
“They are incredibly close and live just 11 miles from each other – Kate at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Home Park and Sophie at Bagshot Park.”
Royal mentor
When Kate married Prince William in 2011, Sophie became “a mentor of sorts” to her, according to Claudia.
She added: “She is 17 years older than Kate and has seen and done it all before.
“Interestingly, while Meghan rejected Sophie’s offer to guide her through life as a Royal, Kate graciously accepted the Queen’s suggestion – she saw her as a ‘solid and trustworthy member of the Firm – and the women became close as Kate adapted to it. new role as Princess of Wales.
“She has found Sophie to be a true confidant and sounding board and they have developed a mutual respect and unbreakable bond.”
After Prince Philip’s death, the late Queen even referred to the dependable Kate and Sophie as her “strength and permanence.”
Royal expert Penny Junor said at the time: “She can always count on Sophie and Kate.”
‘Cheeky humour’
One thing that unites the two women is their “sense of humor” and they have “a lot in common”, says Claudia.
She added: “Whether they are at the Trooping the Color ceremony or Royal Ascot, they are often pictured in each other’s company in fits of laughter.
“At Royal Ascot in 2017, they showed they shared a sense of fun when Sophie leaned in to kiss Kate on the cheek and was launched towards her, leaving the pair in fits of laughter.”
Meanwhile, when the pair watched rowing action during the London 2012 Paralympic Games, body language expert Judi James noted that the pair had a “mischievous, fun and cheeky” friendship.
Sports royalty
Another thing they have in common is their love for sports and they both have a grueling fitness regime.
They say that Sophie swims, attends Pilates classes, exercises as a cross-trainer at home, runs five kilometers twice a week, cycles, skis and is “crazy about cycling”.
Claudia highlighted that she even trained at the Royal Military Academy and “took part in a long-distance cycling challenge from Holyrood, Edinburgh, to Buckingham Palace, a distance of 445 miles, on her stylish £999.99 lightweight carbon bike, designed by Olympic cyclist Cristo Boardman”.
She added: “Kate, meanwhile, skis, plays tennis It is hockeyswims, runs, sails and cycles and is famously competitive – she is often photographed challenging her husband William.
Sophie and Prince Edward’s royal romance
When Sophie met Edward in 1987, she was a PR person for Capital Radio, but it was six years before they started dating.
They then began a romance in earnest, but did everything they could to avoid photographers, especially when Sophie began spending the night in Edward’s three-bedroom apartment at Buckingham Palace. When calling Sophie in her office, the prince used the name Richard – not that he fooled his colleagues for long.
Six years after they started dating, Edward proposed, with a £105,000 ring from Crown jeweler Garrard.
Starting a family wasn’t easy. In 2001, Sophie suffered an ectopic pregnancy.
In 2003, the birth of daughter Louise was equally dramatic. The baby was born one month premature and Sophie lost nine liters of blood, had a cesarean section and was hospitalized for 15 days. In 2007 she had another cesarean section giving birth to her son James.
Last summer, during the holidays before the second lockdown, Edward, Sophie and their children, now aged 17 and 13, were among the first to stay with the Queen and Philip at Balmoral, and the last to leave.
Sophie goes shopping for Kate
The two women – who are already used to being in the public eye – also share beauty and fashion tips.
“Both are aficionados of the work of Richard Ward Chelsea hair salon and still favor the same designers, Emilia Wickstead, Roland Mouret and Erdem, as well as dressmaker Jane Taylor”, shared Claudia.
“And Sophie is known for shopping for Kate.
“Denim designer Donna Ida once revealed Sophie bought her £295 black Sadie jumpsuit for herself and then ordered one for Kate.”
Interestingly, while Meghan rejected Sophie’s offer to guide her through life as a royal, Kate graciously accepted the queen’s suggestion.
Claudia José
And behind their impeccable styles and high-profile royal engagements, the two women are also aligned in family life at home.
Claudia added: “They both feel very comfortable in the countryside, raising their children with lots of fresh air and taking lots of walks with their dogs.
“And they have green fingers.
“Sophie and her husband Edward created a woodland garden in Bagshot, while Kate created a famous garden for the Chelsea Flower Show.”
Sophie began a career in public relations, working for a number of companies including Capital Radio as well as public relations firms The Quentin Bell Organization and MacLaurin Communications & Media.
The Countess met Prince Edward while working at Capital Radio for the first time in 1987.
Prince Edward and Sophie were married on June 19, 1999, at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle – the same venue chosen by Prince Harry and Meghan.
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