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Meet the royal who will replace the Sussexes

Kristine Tarbert
·Features and Health Editor
Updated
Queen Elizabeth II and the Countess of Wessex leave after attending a morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk. (Photo by Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II and the Countess of Wessex attend a church service in Sandringham together. Photo: Getty Images

With Prince Harry and Meghan officially kicking off their new life in Canada, the palace is set to enlist the help of another royal to take on more engagements.

Sophie Wessex, who is considered the Queen’s ‘long-term favourite’, will effectively be ‘replacing’ the Sussexes and representing the Queen after Harry and Meghan’s shock decision to step back from royal duties.

The Countess of Wessex, 55, is married to the Queen's youngest son Prince Edward, 55, and is set to help ‘ease the burden’.

“[Sophie] has been singled out as a person the Palace would like to help ease the burden,” a source told The Sun.

The Countess of Wessex speaks to staff including doctors and social workers at the Aberdeen Women's Clinic in Freetown on the second day of her visit to Sierra Leone. (Photo by Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images)
The Countess of Wessex visited Sierra Leone last week – becoming the first royal to visit the continent since Prince Harry and Meghan’s African tour in October. Photo: Getty
January 20th 2020 - Buckingham Palace has announced that Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan will no longer use "royal highness" titles and will not receive public money for their royal duties. Additionally, as part of the terms of surrendering their royal responsibilities, Harry and Meghan will repay the $3.1 million cost of taxpayers' money that was spent renovating Frogmore Cottage - their home near Windsor Castle. - January 9th 2020 - Prince Harry The Duke of Sussex and Duchess Meghan of Sussex intend to step back their duties and responsibilities as senior members of the British Royal Family. - File Photo by: zz/KGC-160/STAR MAX/IPx 2018 6/9/18 Prince Harry The Duke of Sussex, The Duchess of Sussex and members of The Royal Family at the Trooping The Colour ceremonies as The Queen marks her official birthday - including an inspection of the troops from the Household Division, the Horseguards Parade March in Whitehall and watching a fly-past from the balcony at Buckingham Palace. (London, England, UK)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have stepped back from royal duties. Photo: AP

Royal expert Phil Dampier told the Daily Mail the royal family is becoming “seriously under-staffed”.

“Sophie, has become a star in her own right. She is very close to Her Majesty and is a favourite of hers. Recently she has been on several overseas trips and done fantastically well,” he told the publication.

Sophie and Edward were in the spotlight this week, co-hosting a reception for a UK-Africa business summit, alongside Prince William and Kate, on behalf of the queen.

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex arrive at a reception to mark the UK-Africa Investment Summit at Buckingham Palace on January 20, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex arrive at a reception to mark the UK-Africa Investment Summit. Photo: Getty

Sophie is also said to be 'very popular' with other senior royals including Prince Charles, 71, and the Duchess of Cornwall, 72.

Camilla breaks silence on Harry and Meghan’s move

Camilla spoke out about Megxit for the first time last week, while visiting a hospice in Wroughton.

A video from the visit, posted to ITV royal editor Chris Ship’s Twitter, shows the moment he asked the Duchess if she would “miss Harry and Meghan?”

Camilla looked completely caught off guard by the question, and continued to walk on, before turning her head and saying: “Course”.

The 72-year-old likely played a part in the decision making process around the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s exit from the royal family.

Britain's Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (L) and Britain's Sophie, Countess of Wessex, (2nd L) talk with Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, (R) at a reception for heads of State and Government at Buckingham Palace in London on January 20, 2020, following the UK-Africa Investment Summit. (Photo by Yui Mok / POOL / AFP) (Photo by YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Edward and Sophie hosted the event alongside William and Kate. Photo: Getty

The Palace officially confirmed that Harry and Meghan Markle were completely stepping away from royal life last week, to instead embark on an independent future where they will pay their own way, free of taxpayer funding.

Now, plenty of people are wondering what will be next for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

They will no longer use their ‘Royal Highness’ titles, the palace said in an announcement that sought to end the turmoil sparked when the couple announced they wanted to reduce their official duties and spend more time in North America.

Harry and Meghan will be allowed to maintain their private patronages and associations.

New title for Prince William

Meanwhile the Queen has given William new title after stripping Harry of his own.

The future king has been appointed Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for 2020, it was revealed on Sunday.

The 37-year-old royal was chosen by his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, to act as her representative at the General Assembly in May where he’ll make opening and closing addresses.

READ MORE: What does the future have in store for Harry and Meghan?

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