The Duchess of Edinburgh has quietly stepped up amid the Royal Family “soap opera” between the Waleses and the Sussexes, according to author Sean Smith.

Mr Smith, whose book Sophie: Saving the Royal Family was published in July 2025, has spoken to GB News about the Duchess of Edinburgh’s work ethic.

 

Mr Smith said tensions within the Royal family can often overshadowed substantive work.

He said: “The media has been and continues to be obsessed with the family drama involving Harry, Meghan, William, Kate and Charles. It’s a soap opera.”

Mr Smith added: “(Meanwhile) Sophie (has been) comforting women and children refugees.”

The duchess has been working to end conflict-related sexual violence for more than a decade.

She undertook visits to Kosovo and South Sudan as the Countess of Wessex, before becoming Duchess of Edinburgh in 2023.

In October 2019, she visited Kosovo to meet survivors and open a conference on transgenerational trauma.

Duchess of Edinburgh

Duchess of Edinburgh quietly steps up amid royal ‘soap opera’ between Waleses and Sussexes

 | PA

In March 2020, she travelled to South Sudan to highlight the rights of women and girls affected by conflict.

The Duchess’s humanitarian reach expanded further with her visit to Ukraine in April 2024.

As a result of this visit, Sophie became the first member of the Royal Family to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska.

During the one-day visit to Kyiv, she paid respects to victims in Bucha and met survivors of conflict-related sexual violence as well as volunteers assisting displaced families.

Duchess of Edinburgh

The Duchess of Edinburgh in the Democratic Republic of Congo

 | PA

Her advocacy has continued into 2025. In late September, the Duchess undertook a four-day humanitarian mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

There, she met survivors at Panzi Hospital in Kinshasa and spoke with medical teams led by Nobel laureate Dr Denis Mukwege.

Reports from the trip highlighted her private meetings with women and girls in safe spaces and clinics, as well as discussions with UN personnel on improving protection measures.

Duchess of Edinburgh

The Duchess of Edinburgh also travelled to Ukraine in April 2024

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Mr Smith said the Duchess’s growing recognition was long overdue.

He argued that public interest is now catching up with her record of consistent, meaningful work that rarely makes newspaper front pages.

The author additionally said Sophie’s focus on practical support for women and children in conflict zones offers a counterpoint to coverage dominated by Royal Family drama.

The Duchess is expected to maintain a strong programme of international engagements alongside domestic work tied to her charities and patronages.