SOPHIE VISITS TANZANIA

The Duchess of Edinburgh promotes gender equality and sets a target on eye health during her tour in East Africa

- REBECCA RUSSELL

In a year which has seen two of its most valuable players taking time out to focus on their health, the royal family has sometimes seemed rather thin on the ground. Even though this has presented a challenge, it has allowed other stars to have their chance to shine, and chief amongst them is the Duchess of Edinburgh.

In her latest move, Sophie, 59, travelled to Tanzania for a tour which brought together her main areas of charitable interest – health, avoidable blindness, and most of all, gender equality. This move, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond says, proved she is one of the monarchy’s greatest assets and someone King Charles will be proud to have supporting him.

“She may look like the perfect English rose: demure, understated and genteel – but she is also a tigress when it comes to championing women’s rights… and I love that about her,” Jennie praises, as she exclusively talks to OK!. “Sophie describes herself as a firm believer in equality between men and women. She exercises soft diplomatic power on behalf of the King and country, and brings wonderful common sense power when it comes to women’s place in the world.

“She is seen as a safe pair of hands when carrying out her royal engagements either with the rest of the family or by herself,” Jennie points out. “She doesn’t complain, she doesn’t demand, she just gets on with supporting the King when asked, and with pursuing her interests the rest of the time. She often does this under the radar, expecting no special treatment and is now absolutely part of the core working royals.”

Even though she is already beloved for her understated and fun-loving approach to royal duties, the visit left little doubt that it’s not just King Charles who will be grateful for Sophie as her husband, Prince Edward, 60, will also be proud of everything his wife has achieved since she married into the royal family.