Sophie Wessex's 'frustration' after marrying Prince Edward and joining royals
Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, has been a member of the Royal Family for more than two decades - but she has spoken about the difficulties she faced in her early years
Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, has opened up about her early struggles after entering the Royal Family, admitting to bouts of 'frustration' as she adjusted to her royal duties.
Coming from a PR background as Sophie Rhys-Jones, the Duchess was accustomed to freely expressing her views on corporate communication for her clients.
Transitioning into royalty following her nuptials in 1999, she realized she had to moderate her approach. She admitted: "Certainly it took me a while to find my feet," and went on to disclose: "The frustration was that I had to reduce my expectations of what I could actually do."
Previously proactive in offering strategic advice to charities, Sophie came to understand that her royal position meant being more of a figureheadâthe "icing on the cake â the person to come in and thank their volunteers and funders â not necessarily to tell them how to run their communications plan."
Despite these changes, Sophie has established herself as an integral component of the Royal Household, frequently hailed as the "Secret Weapon" for her pivotal role, as reported by Surrey Live.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, didn't have an easy start at the firm (Image: Getty Images)
Woman Magazine has observed the substantial affection for her among the public, asserting that folks have truly embraced her. Together with her husband, Prince Edward, Sophie reportedly shares a tight-knit working bond with Prince William and Princess Kate.
Ingrid Seward, a Royal commentator, has lauded the Duchess for her effectiveness as a royal, saying: "With Sophie, it's not all about her. She was one of the first 'outsiders' who came into the royal family and realised it's about all of 'them' working together as a team. She really gets that and doesn't want praise heaped on her."
Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Despite her commitment to royal duties, Sophie still maintains a rebellious side. Her recent trip to Ukraine, officially sanctioned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, reportedly faced opposition behind closed doors.
An insider told The Times: "The government tried to stop her going to Ukraine, but she wasn't having any of it." It is believed that the Duchess intends to visit several other conflict zones in the future, regardless of official advice.
Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here.
Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.