Inside Queen Elizabeth's Relationship With Prince Edward

According to two different royal sources, Prince Edward is Queen Elizabeth II's favorite child — particularly because Her Royal Highness is fond of the Earl of Wessex's wife, Countess Sophie. In fact, some say she trusts her more than Prince William's wife, Kate Middleton, and Prince Charle's longtime love, Camilla Parker Bowles. "[Countess Sophie] is trusted and relied on by the queen in a way I couldn't say applied to the Duchess of Cambridge or the Duchess of Cornwall," a royal aide told the Daily Mail in 2016, adding, "She is like another daughter to Her Majesty, they are that close."

Another insider explained that the queen depends on Prince Edward's partner, explaining that she "talks to Sophie in the way she used to talk to [her sister] Princess Margaret," and that she "filled a terrible gap in the queen's life that was left when her sister and the Queen Mother died in 2002."

Sources told Express in 2017 that Queen Elizabeth also has a special place in her heart for her unproblematic son, who "has molded into a quiet and efficient figure who does not seek attention or acquire headlines." They added, "He and Sophie are liked for being dutiful and uncomplaining."

However, the biggest clue that Prince Edward is her favorites? His royal title. The queen is expected to grant him Prince Philip's Duke of Edinburgh title.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7XCpKCsr5mbwW%2BvzqZmbHBkbn9ye8inqqKclWK%2BtrHEp2SepJmvrqOx06GqZqqVoa61tc6nqqGhoGLEqsDHZqeroZ6Ysm6xw7CYq5xf