Duchess Sophie is 'next generation's Princess Anne' and will be 'vital asset' to nephew William
The Duchess of Edinburgh has become exactly ‘what the royals need’, according to King Charles's former butler
The Duchess of Edinburgh has long been a valued working member of the Royal Family - and one who was said to enjoy a particular closeness with the late Queen. But now she’s stepped up even more and become exactly "what the royals need" in the opinion of former royal butler Grant Harrold.
He worked with King Charles for seven years and has recently described Sophie as a "steady influence" and a potential future matriarch figure for the monarchy.
Speaking to GB News, he suggested, "I think in recent years we’ve seen her position grow even stronger, and she’s become the King’s steady influence. She’s always working hard in the background as a reliable constant, and that’s exactly what the royals need at the moment."
Grant makes it clear that the Duchess has always been "a trustworthy and hardworking member", but it’s only in recent years that her work and qualities have become more visible. He claimed, "While she didn’t always get the brightest spotlight, she was always pushing for the causes she cared about and used her platform to raise awareness for important issues."
This is how she quietly fostered deep connections with key royals. Grant added, "She has always clearly been a favourite, and they all enjoy spending time with her. She was admired by the Queen, and she’s also very close to Catherine."
Now His Majesty and Sophie have become closer too, according to the former butler.
"Sophie and the King have a brother-sister-like relationship," he alleged. "She is reliable and is really just the overall perfect royal."
Praising her dedication, Grant continued, "The family has always trusted her to carry out her engagements. The Duchess has a fantastic poker face, exactly like the Queen. She will always just get on with the job, despite all the chaos unfolding around her."
It’s not just a likeness with Queen Elizabeth that has stood Sophie in good stead. Grant believes she shares many similar qualities with her sister-in-law, the Princess Royal. So much so, he even dubbed her "the next generation’s Princess Anne".
He shared, "Like Princess Anne, Sophie will always be a member of the family that the King trusts. The Duchess is taking on the exact role that Princess Anne has played for decades. They are incredibly similar in the sense that they just get on with it."
Grant even envisions Sophie taking on an important role for William when the time comes for him to ascend the throne, eventually inheriting the matriarch mantel.
He said, "I have no doubt she will become one of the future King's closest allies. She will be a matriarch for the Royal Family, and a vital asset to future King William."
