Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Prince Edward Earl of Wessex, could find their “profiles being raised” as a result of members of the Royal Family stepping back from public life, according to a royal commentator. Richard Fitzwilliams spoke to Express.co.uk about how the “enormously successful” the Wessexes have been in their engagements and duties. However, he warned that the couple wouldn’t be particularly pleased with having to sacrifice their privacy.
Mr Fitzwilliams said: “I think they may increase the number of duties they do since they’ve both done extremely well.
“Many years ago they had to step back from this idea that you could be a royal and also hold down a job.
“They’ve been enormously successful as full-time royals, and they do it in an unspectacular, lowkey way.
“I think they’re probably grateful for this, someone like Princess Anne is certainly grateful for it.”
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He continued: “The fact that the press don’t follow their every move is welcome.
“There certainly isn’t the interest that there is in the Queen, Charles, Camilla, William and Kate.
“I don’t think they would want that, I think they simply want to be able to carry out their duties and royal engagements.
“They do it tremendously well, there’s no doubt about it.”
Mr Fitzwilliams also told Express.co.uk that the Wessexes are “very much following in the same footsteps” as Princess Anne.
He spoke about the inspiration that Sophie takes from her sister-in-law’s role as a working royal, emphasising the Princess Royal’s no fuss approach to engagements.
He said of Anne: “I think over the decades there’s been enormous public respect for her work ethic.
“That’s basically what people expect from her, and that’s what she does.
“The Wessexes are very much following in the same footsteps. The Wessexes and Princess Anne are examples of the monarchy at its best.”
