The Duchess of Edinburgh has been described as one of the Royal Family’s “most powerful secret weapons”. Sophie, one commentator said, has been carrying out important and high-profile work for years on behalf of both the Crown, her patronages and the Government. Nevertheless, she hasn’t received as much public and media attention as other members of the Firm. Most recently, Sophie headed to Iraq for four days to champion female empowerment and survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.

The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden wrote in his Palace Confidential newsletter: “It was an important visit, but attracted very little media coverage, partly because the Government didn’t want to publicise it until after it had happened, for security reasons.

“When Sophie became the first royal to visit South Sudan in 2020 and the first to the Democratic Republic of the Congo last year, her trips received similarly little attention.”

But Mr Eden believes the Duchess deserves not just more recognition but also a more “prominent role”, as does her husband the Duke of Edinburgh.

The commentator said he would like to see the Palace “giving Edward and Sophie more prominent roles, and more charity patronages” especially in light of the exit from the Firm of three other working members in recent years – the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Prince Andrew.

And Sophie’s outstanding work may also pave the way for a future in the Firm for her children, Mr Eden suggested, saying: “Perhaps, their children, Lady Louise and James, the new Earl of Wessex, will be allowed to become working members of ‘The Firm’ in the future?”