Royal family
Find out which royal Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh assisted after a scary moment that happened on a balcony in full view of the public.
Prince Edward’s wife Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (formerly the Countess of Wessex) isn’t in the spotlight as much as the other working royals, but she is an invaluable member of the family. Sophie is someone everyone knows they can count on. In fact, she was often referred to as Queen Elizabeth II‘s favorite daughter-in-law as the late monarch knew she could always rely on Sophie.
Even though she’s mostly seen on the sidelines in public, Sophie is right there in the middle of things if another family member needs assistance. And she has proven that on a number of occasions including when one royal fainted as they stood on a balcony during a public event.
How Sophie helped Kate avoid a public disaster
In November 2024, Sophie stood alongside the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton) on the balcony of the Foreign Office during the wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph. It was Kate’s first major event since announcing she was “cancer-free” and many royal watchers pointed out that she looked a bit nervous. Sophie noticed that too and was seen placing a supportive hand on the princess’s back.
She sprang into action a few years earlier as well when she stood next to Kate during a public event. That time was just after Princess Eugenie’s wedding. It was quite windy that day as seen in several photos of the royals who attended the affair. The men’s tailcoats kept blowing behind them in the wind, Queen Elizabeth had to hold tight onto her hat so she didn’t lose it, and there was no need for anyone to even try fixing their hair as it blew around.
When the family was assembled outside the Chapel following the conclusion of the ceremony, one strong gust of wind came through and began to blow up the skirt of Kate’s plum-colored A-line dress.
At that same time, cameras clicked away and many saw Kate quickly push her skirt down just in the nick of time. What many did not see is how Sophie immediately offered Kate assistance in case that happened again. A video uploaded to TikTok shows the duchess reacting by putting her hand on the princess’s dress. She then moves closer to Kate to prevent the wind from blowing it up another time.
Sophie to the rescue after a princess faints during somber ceremony
But Kate isn’t the only princess Sophie has given aid to when needed. A few months after she joined the royal family herself, she helped another princess who fainted watching a Remembrance Day service.
Hello! noted in 1999, Sophie — who had only been married to Prince Edward for five months — was right there when Princess Beatrice fainted on the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office while watching the memorial service at the Cenotaph.
The then-11-year-old was looking on from the balcony as her father, Prince Andrew, participated in the wreath-laying ceremony.
Cameras captured the young princess as she fainted before she was caught by Sophie and then supported by Princess Anne’s husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, who was also on hand watching proceedings from that position.
