BEING in the royal family certainly has its perks, particularly when it comes to extravagant gifts.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who celebrated her 60th birthday this month, recently dazzled in a £15,000 Chopard jewellery gift, thought to be from Prince Edward.
The stunning diamond set – which included a necklace, bracelet and stud earrings, could well have been a Christmas present from her husband of 25 years.
The jewellery items are from the ‘Happy Diamonds’ collection – and Sophie debuted them on Christmas Day as she went to church with the royals.
If they were from Edward, they appear to have gone down well with Sophie.
The hard-working duchess showed off the set again last Thursday on a visit to Sandhurst, the Royal Military Academy that trained up the likes of Princes William and Harry.
As she attended the Royal Corps of Army Music Dinner in her role as Colonel-in-Chief, Sophie looked sensational in a grey floor-length Erden “Lindsay” gown.
The dress, which features a high neckline and long, sheer sleeves was cinched in at the waist with a matching belt.
Sophie has worn the sparkly dress a number of times before, including during her 2023 Canadian trip, and she could have taken style notes from Princess Kate.
The Princess of Wales wore a similar Erdem style in a midi length at the UK-India Year of Culture launch event in 2017 that was hosted by the late Queen.
Sophie celebrated her birthday with a party organised by her husband Prince Edward.
The dinner and dance was held at Bagshot Park, the grand house in Berkshire which Edward and Sophie moved into shortly after their wedding in 1999.
Yet despite its grandeur, 120-room Bagshot has rarely been used by Edward and Sophie for formal entertaining.
But they opened up their home for Sophie’s black-tie bash, to which all members of the Royal family were invited.
Staff for the party were borrowed from nearby Windsor Castle as the Edinburghs do not lead an ostentatious life.
Their only everyday employees are a butler (whose actual job title is Household Manager) and a housemaid/cleaner.
“Neither Sophie or Edward are what you might call big party animals,” says a source close to the family.
Naturally included for the celebrations were the Edinburghs’ son James, Viscount Severn, 16, who is studying for his A-levels at the all-boys boarding school Radley, and daughter Lady Louise, 21, who is reading English at St Andrew’s University.
Sophie’s bond with Kate
Sophie has been a pillar of support at a time when the Royal Family was hit by two alarming developments – the news that the Princess of Wales was suffering from cancer which had been discovered after she had abdominal surgery – and the shock announcement shortly afterwards that King Charles was also being treated for cancer.
William especially was grateful that the moment she heard of Kate’s condition Sophie was in touch to see how she could help.
When Kate stepped back from public life, Sophie was the first to take on some of her engagements.
“That sort of pragmatism, a genuine desire to help and support someone who has been knocked off kilter, is pure Sophie,” says a senior royal source.
“It really helped William and Kate, obviously in a practical way, but also knowing Sophie could always be relied upon to give her support whenever it was needed.”
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh's 'humble' start in life
UNLIKE Prince Edward, Sophie comes from humble beginnings.
The daughter of a tyre salesman and a secretary, she was working in PR at Capital Radio when they met in 1987.
Edward was dating her friend at the time, but six years later they got together after a charity event.
Sophie continued to work for a few years after they got married before finally becoming a full-time royal in 2002.
“I remember our first meeting many years ago when she was just becoming known as Edward’s girlfriend,” former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said.
“I was lunching at The Ritz with one of the Queen Mother’s ladies in waiting when I saw Sophie at a nearby table. I seized the moment and introduced myself which was probably very annoying for her, but she was charm personified, and we chatted for a few minutes.
“And I really don’t think she has changed much since then.
“Yes, she and Edward live in a mansion, have titles and huge privilege, but Sophie has known a life outside those cloistered palace walls and she has kept her sense of perspective.
“For example, she has told her children that, titles or no titles – and they have chosen thus far not to use their HRH status – they should expect to have to earn a living.
“Sophie was happy for her daughter to take on a seasonal job at a garden centre for less than £7 an hour.
“And during the pandemic Sophie served as a volunteer with the Royal Voluntary Service, talking with people on the phone to help them combat the feeling of isolation – and she carried on talking with some of them after the pandemic ended.
“She will also often travel under the radar to places like Malawi, Botswana or Ethiopia to visit projects dedicated to promoting eye health and preventing blindness, and she does this from the heart after her daughter Louise was born with a squint.
“Sophie is one of the strengths of the new monarchy – elegant, engaging and empathetic. I think people have really taken her into their hearts.”
And that support was extended to the Wales’s children, with ‘Aunt Sophie’ arranging picnics and playdates at Bagshot for George, Louis and Charlotte, during the times when Kate needed to rest after her debilitating sessions of chemotherapy.
Despite their 18-year age gap, Sophie’s relationship with Kate – which has always been warm – has deepened in the last year.
Her support for the princess was evident on Remembrance Sunday, when Kate looked to be on the verge of tears at the end of the service at the Cenotaph.
Sophie simply placed her hand on Kate’s shoulder as the pair made their way from a balcony.
