How Sophie saved Prince Edward's reputation and turned him into a 'national treasure'

Prince Edward has spent much of his royal life in the background, often overshadowed by more senior members of the royal family. However, experts now believe he is on his way to becoming a national treasure—and it’s largely thanks to his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.

Once seen as an unpopular and struggling royal, Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II, has transformed his image over the years. Experts credit Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, as the key figure behind his steady rise in the royal family.

Speaking on Channel 5’s documentary, Edward: 60 Years a Prince, historian Dr. Tessa Dunlop explained: "Edward has come good—he had a few difficulties in his time, lest we forget. And now, I think he’s almost on track to become something of a national treasure, which no one would have predicted in the 1980s."

Royal biographer Kate Williams went further, claiming Sophie was "Edward’s most brilliant idea," saying: "There are many royal spouses who have been the making of their husbands, and Sophie is absolutely it."

Prince Edward’s past missteps and failures once made him an unlikely candidate for a key role in the monarchy. Some of his biggest blunders included: Attending Cambridge University despite not meeting admission requirements, dropping out of Royal Marines training a third of the way through, and the disastrous 'It’s a Royal Knockout' TV special, which turned into an embarrassing PR nightmare

Unlike other royal marriages that have been full of turmoil, Edward and Sophie’s relationship has remained strong. Experts believe her calm, grounded presence helped Edward find his true role in the royal family.

Royal commentator Richard Kay, who was a close friend of Princess Diana, shared: "It’s hard to believe that only a couple of decades ago Edward’s prospects of any kind of major role in the Royal Family seemed remote, to say the least. But he has come through. He has become the original ‘safe pair of hands.’"

Sophie, unlike other royal spouses, has been a steady and unwavering partner to Edward. While their wedding was a quiet affair, it cemented Sophie’s long-term popularity with the public.

Williams noted: "Edward has been battling unpopularity his whole life, and he doesn’t want to be in the spotlight. Sophie helped shape their public image in a way that allowed them to focus on royal duty without overwhelming scrutiny."

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