EDWARD AND SOPHIE STEP UP FOR THE KING

As King Charles calls on the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to take on a more prominent role, they display their dedication and devotion to duty

- REBECCA RUSSELL

They have rapidly become one of the royal family's greatest assets and so it proved again last week when the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh stepped up to the plate and carried out a historic ceremony on behalf of King Charles.

And as Prince Edward, 60, and Sophie, 59, watched French soldiers parade before Buckingham Palace to mark 120 years of good relations between the two countries, they must have reflected that their rise has been many years in the making.

In the 13 months since Edward and Sophie were granted their new titles, their personal popularity and recognition within the royal family has skyrocketed as they are increasingly called on to represent the King at events while he focuses on his recovery.

Their latest outing, the first time a non-Commonwealth country has taken part in the Changing of the Guard ceremony, saw the couple walk past members of the 1st and 2nd Infantry regiments of the Garde Republicaine and then 40 guardsmen from F Company Scots Guards, who lined up opposite their French counterparts.