Thought to be Queen Elizabeth II's 'favourite' family member and closest confidante, Sophie, The Duchess of Edinburgh, has evolved from a PR executive to a leading member of the Royal Family.

The 59-year-old wife of Prince Edward has stepped up her royal duties since the King's coronation, a year ago today - particularly recently, after she took on engagements on behalf of the cancer-stricken monarch amid his treatment.

Charles, 75, paused all public-facing engagements after his diagnosis in February, but continued to meet dignitaries and others at the Palace.

During his absence, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were the second busiest royals behind Princess Anne, 73. Between them, the couple conducted 128 engagements. 

Edward and Sophie were granted their new titles in March 2023 to commemorate the Duke's 59th birthday - and since then they have stepped up their royal duties, especially in the wake of King Charles' cancer treatment.  

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, on behalf of King Charles III, watching the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, London, with France's Gendarmerie's Garde Republicaine taking part to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale

Last month, His Majesty, who is not yet clear of the disease and is still undergoing treatment, was given permission to return to public-facing duties because his medical team are understood to be 'pleased with the progress made so far.'

But during his absence, Sophie regularly stepped in for the monarch. For instance, the Princess Royal and Duchess proved they make quite the power duo as they hosted a reception for Korean War veterans together in March.

Stepping in for the King, the pair greeted various attendees at Buckingham Palace, central London, with the event marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War.

In a message delivered via Anne, Charles explained that his absence from the event made him feel 'disappointed' and 'frustrated' but he was 'most grateful to the Princess Royal and the Duchess of Edinburgh for standing in.'

Then in April, Sophie and Edward notably attended a ceremony celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale on behalf of the King.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh inspected UK and French troops on Buckingham Palace's forecourt during the event highlighting ties between the two nations. 

Last week, Sophie also bravely denounced Vladimir Putin's forces for using rape as a weapon of war as she became the first British royal to visit Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022. 

The royal met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife - and passed on a personal message from King Charles - as she showed her solitary with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and torture during her emotional one-day trip.

The Princess Royal and Duchess proved they make quite the power duo as they hosted a reception for Korean War veterans together in March (pictured)

The Duchess of Edinburgh (right) with the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska at the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv during a visit to Ukraine

For many years, Sophie, mother to Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex, was something of an outsider in the British Royal Family - but after decades of hard work and loyal service, she has established herself as a key figure in the monarchy. 

In March, Princess Edward referred to his wife as his 'rock' as he sat down with gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh on ITV's Love Your Weekend programme. 

The prince, who wed his partner in 1999, said: 'I'm incredibly lucky that I found Sophie and that she found me.'

The Duchess' key role in the Royal Family became abundantly clear shortly after the King's May 2023 coronation.

Just a month later, Sophie enjoyed a rare joint engagement with the Prince of Wales as they both attended the screening of Rhino Man at the newly renovated Battersea Power Station in south-west London.

It was a rare sight to see Prince Edward's wife on an outing with only the heir to the British throne - but royal experts said at the time that this was a clear indication of her new and improved status within The Firm.

Speaking to FEMAIL, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the pair's engagement together was 'unusual, but it highlighted Sophie's role as one of the hardest working members of The Royal Family.'

'William and Catherine have a unique profile as the world’s most glamorous royal couple with enormous soft power reach. Sophie has clearly established herself as their indispensable support,' said the expert. 

Pictured, Sophie with King Charles, then Prince of Wales, on June 14, 2022

In June 2023, the Duchess of Edinburgh enjoyed a rare joint engagement with the Prince of Wales (pictured together at a private screening of Rhino Man)

He added that the Duchess' 'considerable charm' and similar style to Princess Anne - with both sharing a 'low-key approach' - has made her a great addition to The Firm. 

The royal expert continued: 'There is periodic interest in what she wears, but she and her husband Edward are not in the eye of the media storm. That is the way they prefer it.'

However they are pivotal to the monarchy’s charitable role, which is one of its main functions.

'Her style is similar to Princess Anne, as she prefers a low-key approach to her duties. They have included trips to areas of conflict such as South Sudan and Sierra Leone.' 

Royal author Phil Dampier, meanwhile, explained: 'Sophie is becoming a big star in The Royal Family and boy do they need her!

'With Harry and Meghan and Prince Andrew off the scene the King has got a slimmed down monarchy, but maybe it’s slimmed down too much.

'He and the Queen, and Princess Anne are in their seventies and others like the Duke of Kent are approaching retirement.

'Sophie is a much bigger star than her husband Edward. She has a natural warmth and is good on walkabouts. She has been quietly getting on with the job, rather like Anne, and made several visits abroad.' 

Princess Anne and Sophie look on as Queen Elizabeth II cuts a Women's Institute Celebrating 100 Years cake at the Centenary Annual Meeting of The National Federation Of Women's Institute at the Royal Albert Hall on June 4, 2015 in London

The new 'Fab Four' seen together on the Buckingham Palace balcony after the Coronation. The Duchess and Duke of Edinburgh stand alongside the Princess and Prince of Wales

It was over the Coronation weekend that the Waleses and Edinburghs emerged as key partners in the revamped 'Firm'. They are pictured hosting a garden party as part of the celebrations

'She has matured greatly and seeing her by William’s side is an indication of her new status,' the author concluded.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, meanwhile, told OK magazine how Sophie - who's previously been dubbed The Firm's 'secret weapon' by royal author Victoria Murphy - has the 'common touch' thanks to her her 'normal life' before marrying into The Royal Family.

'It is so much more evident now that Sophie is a key member of the list of working royals,' Jennie said. 'I think people have really taken her into their hearts, especially after she showed her obvious grief at losing Prince Philip and the Queen.' 

The former PR girl was said to be a firm favourite of Queen Elizabeth's, who reportedly viewed her as The Royal Family's safest pair of hands.  

Jennie added: 'Sophie is absolutely one of the new female stars of the show – elegant, engaging and empathetic'. 

After becoming the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh in March 2023, Edward and Sophie started appearing alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales more often. 

At King Charles' coronation, the couple were seated in the front row of Westminster Abbey - next to Kate, William, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

And just two days later, the same quartet took the lead at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party, which praised volunteers up and down the country. 

Mother-of-three Kate and Sophie even matched their outfits that day in blue, long-hemmed dresses. 

Since marrying into the royal family, Sophie, like Kate, has long since cemented her place at the centre of the monarchy - having been loved by both the late Queen and Prince Philip.

After losing her husband, Queen Elizabeth and Sophie would walk their dogs together in the grounds of Windsor Castle. The Queen would often invite her to take Philip’s place alongside her in the back of the car.

Sophie, who was brought up in Kent by a tyre company executive father and a secretary mother, is now patron to over 70 different organisations.  

Writing for Town & Country in 2020, royal journalist and author Victoria Murphy told how Sophie had become a stalwart member of the royal family thanks to her down to earth nature and quietly assured approach to her royal duties.

'Her work does not regularly receive the kind of media attention that the younger royals command, but Sophie has become a stalwart member of the "firm",' Murphy wrote, adding: 'The spotlight on Sophie has intensified in the vacuum left as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle step back.'

However her current royal reputation is a far cry from the drama that followed the Duchess early on in her marriage, when she was still running her own public relations consultancy.

A 'royals for hire' storm was sparked after she posed beside a Rover 75 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, having secured a £250,000 contract to publicise it. 

Sophie was also sensationally caught up in a humiliating 'sting' operation engineered by the News of the World after talking with a 'Fake Sheik' posing as a potential client. Her taped indiscretions about senior politicians were highly embarrassing.

Since then she has turned it around. Sophie's determination saw her take on full-time royal duties, and embrace rural pursuits beloved by the royals, such as riding, fishing, shooting game and carriage driving.