Kind and wise: Duchess of Edinburgh now a ‘critical member’ of Princess Kate’s…

The Duchess of Edinburgh is a ‘critical member’ of Princess Kate’s circle as she returns to public duties.

A royal insider called Sophie a “kind and wise” friend of the Princess of Wales
The insider told the Daily Mail: “There have been some really kind and wise people along the way who have helped the princess over the years, and Sophie is very much one of those.”

Mark Foster-Brown, the Edinburghs’ close friend, also said: “Sophie has been a very positive reference point and sounding board for the Duchess of Cambridge.

He said: “Their relationship has really strengthened.
“It will be absolutely critical for [the princess] to have a female backup.

“And she simply couldn’t get better than someone like Sophie.”

Sophie accompanied the Princess of Wales on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office balcony to witness King Charles leading the nation in paying respect with a two-minute silence during the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph.

During the service, Sophie was seen comforting Princess Kate, who undertook royal duties for the second consecutive day.
The future queen attended the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening alongside her husband, Prince William.

It was the first time the Princess of Wales made back-to-back appearances since she temporarily stepped back from duties following her cancer diagnosis in March earlier this year.

Royal biographer Claudia Joseph claimed that when Princess Kate joined the Royal Family in 2011 after marrying Prince William, the Duchess of Edinburgh, 59, became “somewhat of a mentor to her.

She added: “She saw her as a solid and trustworthy member of The Firm.

“The women have become close as Kate adapts to her new role as Princess of Wales.
“She has found that Sophie is a true confidante and sounding board and they have developed a mutual respect and an unbreakable bond.”

Since living closer together, the friends have built a close relationship, often seen at official events side-by-side.