Unlike previous royal girlfriends, Sophie was allowed to move in with Edward at Buckingham Palace before the couple were married, something the Queen had never before permitted.
In her 1995 biography of Prince Edward, Ingrid Seward wrote: “That Edward should wish to have his girlfriend beside him as much as possible was perfectly natural.
“That the Queen should allow it to happen under her roof marked a significant change in attitude and approach.
“Both Sarah and Diana had moved into the Palace, but not until they were formally engaged.”
