Sophie Wessex presents design award on behalf of the Queen
Sophie and Prince Edward have a close connection with Princess Anne due to their similar personalities and their relationship with the Queen, according to royal author Clive Irving. And, the expert said, they could create a “very strong combination” with Prince Charles as the Firm enters a new era after Megxit.
Mr Irving, author of The Last Queen: How Elizabeth II Saved The Monarchy, noted there is now more work to be done by the remaining royals after the number of working ones have diminished between 2019 and 2020.
He told Express.co.uk: “Sophie and Edward together will be doing more in the future.
“And I think I can see a compatibility between Sophie and Edward and Charles and Anne.
“That would be a very strong combination – particularly between Sophie and Anne.”
Sophie, Prince Edward, Prince Charles and Princess Anne are ‘a very strong combination’ – expert (Image: GETTY)
Sophie Wessex and Prince Edward got married in 1999 (Image: GETTY)
Speaking more in depth about Prince Edward, Mr Irving believes he shares many similarities with his elder sister Anne.
After an unsuccessful career as a TV producer with the company he launched in 1993, the Earl of Wessex has “recognised” that was not his path and took on royal duties alongside his wife, the author said.
Mr Irving continued: “And now he has become a very dutiful member of the Royal Family, very agreeable person, he is very good at keeping quiet.
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The number of senior royals have decreased between 2019 and 2020 (Image: GETTY)
“When you talk about Princess Anne and her future role I think there is a closer connection to Edward [than her other brothers], because he is a safe pair of hand as she is.”
Prince Edward, Sophie and Anne are among the seven senior royals rumoured to be part of the New Firm, a revamped and slimmed down version of the Royal Family which will see its members collaborating more in public on projects close to their heart.
Speaking about this project, which reportedly received the assent of the Queen, a royal source told the Daily Mirror in December: “The family are united in exploring the possibilities in working with each other to highlight the causes dear to their hearts, helping each other and the country at the same time.
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Senior royals gathered at Windsor Castle in December last year (Image: GETTY)
Prince William, Kate, Camilla and Prince Charles during a joint visit in early 2020 (Image: GETTY)
“They are working on opportunities for next year and beyond already.
“As soon as they are able it will be all hands on deck to make up for lost time.
“The Queen has often said they ‘need to be seen to be believed’ – this is coming from the very top.”
Other members of this New Film include Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and the Cambridges.
Sophie Wessex joined the Royal Family in 1999 (Image: EXPRESS)
Following their decision to step down as senior royals, Meghan and Prince Harry are not part of this project – and neither is Prince Andrew, who in November 2019 announced he would temporarily step back from public office in the wake of his interview with Newsnight focused on his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
These seven royals reportedly part of the New Firm joined the Queen at Windsor Castle for a socially-distanced gathering in December, at the end of Kate and William’s royal train tour.
The first mention of royal Fab Four came months before the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William were first dubbed the royal Fab Four with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry in February 2018.
Prince William and Prince Charles during an engagement in February 2020 (Image: GETTY)
Then, the Sussexes and the Cambridges appeared together at the Royal Foundation’s forum to speak about their charitable vision for the future.
The four young royals did not attend any other events as a foursome since, but appeared together alongside other royals at two Trooping the Colour parades, the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey and at two Christmas Day services at Sandringham.
In February 2020, after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their decision to step back as working royals to carve out a new role for themselves, the Cambridges made their first royal visit with Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, raising hopes for a new royal foursome.
During the engagement at a military rehabilitation centre, Prince Charles and Prince William appeared particularly close, with the Prince of Wales encouraging his son after he threw a basketball from a wheelchair during a game with veterans.
