Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh Strengthens Her Role in Royal Family with Latest Announcement

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh is adding a role to her royal resume to support a charity previously backed by her late father-in-law, Prince Philip.

On Nov. 25, Plan International UK announced Sophie, 59, as its new royal patron, taking over a post that the late Duke of Edinburgh held from 2015 until his death in 2018. The news was further circulated by King Charles and Queen Camilla’s team on social media and the update came on the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. 

“We’re delighted to announce our new Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh,” Plan UK wrote on X. “As a champion of women’s rights, The Duchess has witnessed first hand the impact conflict and crisis can have on young women and girls. We look forward to working with The Duchess to raise awareness of the barriers facing girls around the world.”

The announcement featured a photo of Sophie sitting with young women during her recent trip to Chad in October. The visit was significant as it marked the first time a member of the British royal family officially visited Chad.

She made the trip to the Chad-Sudan border to witness the impact of the conflict firsthand, and meet with young women and girls supported by Plan International UK. According to the organization, over 10 million people have been forced to flee Sudan, with women and children comprising a high proportion of those arriving as refugees to Chad. 

“The Duchess is committed to continuing her work in this area, as part of her new role as Patron of Plan International UK. Her Royal Highness will support the charity’s work to end violence against women and girls in conflict and crisis settings and help to raise greater awareness about the barriers facing girls around the world,” Plan UK said in a statement. 

The news comes just weeks after Sophie stepped in for Queen Camilla, who was sidelined with a chest infection, to join Kate Middleton on the balcony for Remembrance Sunday on November 10. In a touching display of solidarity with Kate, who is gradually returning to public duties after completing chemotherapy, Sophie placed her arm around the Princess of Wales as they left the balcony together.

The royal family’s website describes Sophie as a “global champion” for the United Nations’ Women, Peace and Security Agenda and a supporter of the United Kingdom’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI). Raising awareness around the disproportionate impact of conflict on women and girls has become one of her close causes in recent years, and her new role with Plan UK will further this work.

The global children’s charity works in over 80 countries to ensure every child is safe and receives an education, with girls safeguarded from violence and confident that their voices are heard.

Prince Edward’s wife clocked 108 engagements so far in 2024, and was ranked as the fifth “hardest working royal” by SEO agency Reboot Online. The annual list was calculated by count of official engagements recorded in the Court Circular, and issued earlier in November.

Sophie’s new patronage of Plan UK marks another charitable cause she has taken on that is linked to her late in-laws. In October, Girlguiding announced the Duchess of Edinburgh as its new patron, a change from her previous role as president.

The U.K. scouting group for girls was memorably supported by the late Queen Elizabeth starting in 1953, and the late Queen was a scout when she was a young girl. The new patronage connected Sophie to her mother-in-law in another sweet way, as her Duchess of Edinburgh title is what the future Queen Elizabeth was styled by following her marriage to Prince Philip in 1947 and before her sudden accession in 1952.

In May, Buckingham Palace announced a “major review” of 1,000 patronages and presidencies following the death of Queen Elizabeth and the accession of King Charles in 2022.

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The palace said that King Charles and Queen Camilla would continue the patronage of many of his late mother’s charities and organizations, while others would be undertaken by fellow members of the royal family. It was understood then that a few of the late Prince Philip’s patronages were involved in the process, perhaps linking to Sophie’s new role.