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Royal Resemblance: How Sophie's Likeness to Diana Kept Her from Funeral
28 Jul
Summary
- Sophie Rhys-Jones, now the Duchess of Edinburgh, dated Prince Edward in 1997 when Princess Diana died.
- Sophie did not attend Diana's funeral due to their striking physical resemblance.
- Sophie later married Prince Edward in 1999, becoming a central member of the royal family.
In 1997, Sophie Rhys-Jones, who was dating Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II, at the time, did not attend Princess Diana's funeral. A new book reveals that the reason for her absence was the striking physical resemblance between Sophie and the late Princess of Wales.
According to the book, Sophie's friend at the palace explained that "Sophie decided it would be too upsetting for the crowd if she went." Both Sophie and Diana had blonde, cropped hairstyles, and shared similar features like blue eyes and light hair. The Duchess of Edinburgh, now 60, later grew out her hair into a longer style.
Two years after Diana's death, in 1999, Prince Edward and Sophie announced their engagement and tied the knot at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, officially bringing her into the royal fold. Since then, Sophie has embraced a full-time working royal role alongside her husband, focusing on various charitable causes.
