The day Sophie Wessex was offered a job at Waitrose because she was so good at packing her weekly shop! As the Duchess of Edinburgh turns 60, palace insiders reveal the surprising reasons she's fast b
Daily MailShe's widely seen as one of the monarchy's safest pairs of hands, but should she ever decide on a change of career, the Duchess of Edinburgh would, I can confidently predict, be snapped up by her local Waitrose. Packing her bags on a supermarket trip with her great friend Mary Montagu-Scott some time back, Sophie so impressed the checkout assistant, who was oblivious that she was Queen Elizabeth's daughter-in-law, that she said they had some in-store vacancies and the manager would happily take her details. Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, turns 60 tomorrow - and she is fast becoming the Royal Family's safest pair of hands It's worth noting, of course, that the former Sophie Rhys-Jones was the first 'commoner' to marry a senior member of the Royal Family when she and Edward tied the knot at St George's Chapel, Windsor, in 1999. The marriages of Queen Elizabeth's three other children had all imploded with varying degrees of public fallout, and the late sovereign was personally, as well as professionally, keen that Edward and Sophie – who started dating in 1993 when she worked in PR and chaperoned him at a real tennis tournament – took their time and got it right. A senior royal aide adds that King Charles has long been 'impressed' by Sophie's no-nonsense 'diligence', much in the mould of his sister, Princess Anne.
History of this topic
Prince William has 'big plans' for 'charming and unpretentious' Duchess of Edinburgh - who has 'worked below the radar' for years, royal expert claims
Daily Mail
Sophie Wessex reveals she was determined 'not to tread on toes' as she joined the Royal Family - and shares 'moving' memory about vigil at late Queen's coffin
Daily Mail
How Duchess Sophie has become the unsung hero of Christmas by taking the pressure off Kate Middleton
Daily Mail
Sophie's guiding hand: How the maternal Duchess of Edinburgh has played a comforting role to the Wales family during 'emotionally charged events'
Daily Mail
How Sophie has become Kate's closest ally: 'Maternal' Duchess is a huge support to Princess of Wales - and it's come about because of the void left by Meghan
Daily Mail
How the late Queen's 'favourite' daughter-in-law Sophie has stepped up since becoming the Duchess of Edinburgh following the King's coronation a year ago
Daily Mail
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have a chance to 'shine' as they step up in the absence of senior royals and show 'extraordinary' candour during engagements, experts tell PALACE CONFIDENTIAL
Daily Mail
NATASHA LIVINGSTONE: If you REALLY want to be a proper Duchess, Meghan, just look to the steadfastly unfussy Sophie
Daily Mail
Everything you need to know about Sophie, the new Duchess of Edinburgh
The Independent
Sophie Wessex 'wanted bigger Royal role' but was 'overshadowed'
Daily Mail
Sophie Wessex is the royal family's 'secret weapon'
Daily Mail
Sophie Wessex shows off her creative side
Daily Mail
Sophie Wessex is the Queen's favourite but not Kate Middleton's
Daily MailDiscover Related