The Duchess of Edinburgh gave a brutal response after asked if she was “stepping in” for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Meghan, 43, reportedly “wasn’t interested” in receiving any advice from Sophie, 60, who officially joined the Royal Family in 1999.

According to royal expert Katie Nicholl, Sophie said: “What did people think we were doing beforehand?”. According royal author Gyles Brandreth, who spoke to Palace Confidential, Meghan felt like she had Harry and didn’t need advice from Sophie.

He said: “The Queen wanted Meghan to make a success of the marriage and of her new role, and indeed did everything that she could to encourage that.

“I think she suggested to her that Sophie Wessex had been through it because she had married into the Royal Family.

“I don’t think Meghan was interested in that. She felt she had Harry, she didn’t need to be offered a mentor.”

Speaking about Sophie, Ms Nicholl said: “Sophie is blazing a more ordinary and normal trail for the Royal Family.

“If the price is less attention (although the organisations she is involved with value her hugely) it is a price worth paying.”

Sophie and Prince Edward, 61, also gave a cheeky response when asked about Meghan and Prince Harry’s Oprah Winfey interview in 2021.

Interview by The Telegraph, Edward simply said, “Oprah, who?”, while Sophie added with a laugh, “What interview?”