Meghan Markle is “self-obsessed” and her potential role has been filled by another “dedicated” member of the Royal Family who has stepped up in the wake of the Sussexes departure, a royal expert has claimed.
The Duchess of Edinburgh has been described as an “achiever” as her notable status has been made clear at official royal events.
Sophie was spotted standing next to Queen Camilla on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour and also featured at the top table next to Emperor Naruhito at the State Banquet for the Japanese royals last month.
The opportunity to move into the inner circle arose when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced they would be stepping down as working royals to move to the US.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said in contrast to “self-obsessed” Meghan, Sophie prefers to “get on with it”.
“[The Duchess of Edinburgh] is down to earth which is pivotal, but without attracting adverse publicity,” he told the Mail.
“It is Sophie who has been the achiever. In recent years she has visited Kosovo, South Sudan, Iraq and Ukraine as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other African countries meeting victims of gender-based sexual violence.
“Sophie is active on the ground in this area, as shown in her visit to Sierra Leone in 2020, which is an excellent example of what working members of the royal family can achieve.”
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The Duchess of Edinburgh has been described as an ‘achiever’ as her notably promoted status has been made clear at official royal events
PA
Fitzwilliams suggested that the Duchess of Sussex is a very different character as she and Harry often appear to “do a lot of good for themselves”.
“Her [Sophie] temperament is very different to Meghan’s. The latter, though not without talent, is self-obsessed and reportedly temperamental,” he said.
“Sophie is attached to nearly 70 organisations. Meghan only had a few patronages, Harry had a few more [and] they chose to give them up to make a new life elsewhere.
“Sophie and Edward do not seek publicity or praise. Like Princess Anne, they get on with it, are trusted, do a lot of good and not just for themselves, as the Sussexes do often appear to do.”
Sophie was spotted standing next to Queen Camilla on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour
Reuters
It is believed that the late Queen suggested Sophie as a “sort of mentor” to Meghan when she officially joined the Royal Family after marrying Prince Harry.
However, the Duchess “felt she had Harry”, so did not require any help.
The pair are not known to be in regular contact anymore, but are not dissimilar in their beliefs.
Sophie and Meghan have long endorsed similar causes, including putting an end to gender-based violence and aiding girls’ education.
