Sophie Duchess Of Edinburgh mentors Kate, Meghan declined advice
sophie duchess of edinburgh was described in a new documentary as a guide for Catherine Middleton as she adjusted to royal life. The program also says Meghan Markle met Sophie a couple of times and did not continue the same contact.
The documentary, Royal Peacemaker: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, centers on Sophie’s shift from marrying Prince Edward in 1999 to taking on a more full-time role within the monarchy. It presents her as someone younger royals could turn to when they were learning how the family worked.
Royal Peacemaker and Kate
Royal commentator Emily Andrews said Sophie was willing to help newcomers settle in. “When she saw younger members marrying into the Royal Family, like Catherine Middleton and Meghan Markle, she was very happy to offer to be a mentor of sorts. Sophie had seen it all. She’s been there and done that.”
Victoria Murphy called Sophie “a natural mentor for Kate in many ways” and said their relationship grew over time. Murphy added, “We’ve seen their relationship grow over time, and witnessed little glimpses of it in the public domain.”
Princess Eugenie Wedding
The documentary points to two moments that it says show Sophie’s role with Kate. Murphy said Sophie helped when Kate’s skirt began to fly up in the wind at Princess Eugenie’s wedding, and later placed a comforting hand on Kate’s back at the Remembrance Sunday Service in 2024.
Murphy said, “We’ve seen her be quite protective of Kate. We saw this at the Remembrance Sunday Service in 2024 when they were walking back inside and Sophie put a comforting hand on Kate’s back.” She added, “It was quite a sisterly gesture, and I think shows the depth of the relationship that these two women have.”
Meghan Markle and Frogmore Cottage
The documentary also contrasts that closeness with Meghan’s brief contact with Sophie. Emily Edwards said Sophie and Meghan met “a couple of times” and that Sophie told her, “Anything I can do, anything I can help with, let me know.”
Edwards said Sophie was surprised she was never invited back to Frogmore Cottage, where Harry and Meghan were living at the time. The account leaves Sophie as a figure with documented access to both women, but only one of those relationships appears to have developed into a continuing source of support.
