Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie step up amid King Charles and Kate Middleton’s recoveries

With King Charles and Princess Kate Middleton focusing on their health and dealing with their cancer diagnoses, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie of Edinburgh have been thrust into the limelight, now representing the royal family on the public stage (picked by King Charles himself). 

Specifically, on April 25, Prince Edward will take charge of his most substantial duty yet, leading the Royal Family’s Anzac Day commemorations, a role historically reserved for the monarch. This event honors the service and sacrifice of military personnel in Australia and New Zealand.

This new responsibility comes just after Edward and Sophie were notably absent from their royal appointments on April 23. Yet, they still seem to be the “chosen couple,” and their roles haven’t gone unnoticed by the King.

For example, the couple recently represented King Charles at a historic military event at Buckingham Palace, celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordial. The event was supposed to be hosted by the monarch and the Queen Consort, as it pays tribute to the unity of countries against Germany before World War One.