Queen Elizabeth's "True Favorite" Royal May Surprise You

While you're not supposed to have a favorite family member, and many will deny their partiality, people often have that one relative they like just a little bit extra. This even holds true for the British monarchy. (Royals really are just like us.) Reportedly, a certain royal family member had a special place in Queen Elizabeth II's heart—and this chosen one may surprise you.

Royal expert and biographer Ingrid Seward revealed to OK! magazine that Prince Edward's wife, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, had a cherished bond with the late monarch that put her above the rest. In fact, Elizabeth considered Sophie her "true favorite."

"With the exception of her daughter Anne, the Queen was closer to Sophie than any of the other royal women," Seward told the publication. "It really was a genuine closeness, and Elizabeth was always Sophie's biggest confidante."

Elizabeth felt this way for the most precious reason. "The Queen found her very down to earth, because she refused to have expensive security and things like that, and she loved her lack of airs and graces," Seward continued. "I think she saw Sophie as a bit of a surrogate daughter, too."

Fellow royal expert Katie Nicholl chimed in about Sophie and her mother-in-law's relationship, too.

"Sophie had a wonderful relationship with the Queen, and she never saw it as a chore." Nicholl said. "She was very willing to step up and provide support when needed, and she did it with quiet enthusiasm, and always with a cheerful smile. I think in return, Elizabeth learned not just to rely on Sophie, but to trust her implicitly."

As one example of Elizabeth's trust in Sophie, the duchess reportedly managed to convince Elizabeth to watch the hit Netflix show The Crown, per courtiers who previously told the publication.

Seward also explained that Sophie and Elizabeth had a lot in common, including a shared love of military history, and therefore much to connect over.

"Sophie apparently once went to the First World War battlefields and museums of northern France, which obviously the Queen wasn't able to do," Seward said. "So Sophie rang her from there to tell her about it."

There's no doubt regal life can get stressful at times, and Elizabeth seemingly appreciated Sophie's easiness.

"I think she saw in Sophie a very sensible young woman, and she was quick to welcome her into the inner circle," Nicholl explained. "Sophie knew her place in the hierarchy of The Firm, and never caused any problems. Even in the early days, when there was a bit of drama surrounding her, the Queen stood by her."

Following Elizabeth's passing, Sophie has only continued to be a light for the family. She was recently dubbed the "royal family's secret weapon." The duchess has also assumed role of "peacekeeper" between Prince William and Prince Harry, and it was revealed that she and Princess Kate have a "sisterly bond," which became especially apparent as the Princess of Wales battled cancer this past year.

Read the original article on InStyle