Why Prince Edward is the perfect antidote to his disgraced brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

I have just got back from Portugal after a whirlwind three days with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and thought I’d share some of my thoughts with you. I have been on a few overseas royal tours in my time, including with Prince William and Kate and with the King and Queen, whom I joined in Australia in 2023.

But this trip was different. While the King travels with a huge entourage and has dozens of members of the press in tow, Prince Edward and Sophie’s trip was far more low-key, and gave me a chance to observe them up close – something I haven’t had an opportunity to do so before.

I was one of a very small handful of media who joined this tour, so rather than travelling around on a fleet of buses with writers, photographers and camera crews, we were ferried around in a people carrier and followed the royal couple in convoy – led by police outriders – as they travelled between engagements.

One thing that struck me is how friendly and informal they were as they met various dignitaries, business people, charity leaders and schoolchildren.

At the home of the British Ambassador in Lisbon, where we attended a garden party on the couple’s first evening, they spent an hour chatting to expats who run British charities in Portugal. These weren’t the kind of brief interactions we often see from members of the royal family, but long conversations. 

As they left, the ambassador Lisa Bandari brought her young children, who had been watching proceedings from a balcony above the garden, to meet their royal guests. 

Edward and Sophie spent at least ten minutes chatting to the youngsters and posing for photos with them in the grand entrance hall, where a portrait of King Charles took pride of place. Sophie patiently explained how they were related to the monarch and asked the children about their lives in Portugal, while I heard Edward mention the tooth fairy. Like his brother the King, Edward enjoys cracking jokes, and both he and Sophie seemed to be in high spirits throughout the trip.

New power couple

As we learned about Portugal’s King João and his English wife, Queen Philippa of Lancaster – a “power couple” whose arranged marriage in 1387 cemented the Anglo-Portuguese alliance – I couldn’t help but think how powerful Edward and Sophie are as a couple too.

The King’s vision for a slimmed-down monarchy has come to pass faster than he could have anticipated, with Prince Harry and Meghan having stepped back as working royals in 2020 and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor now cast out from the family firm.

© Alamy Stock Photo

Edward and Sophie’s informal and down-to-earth approach to their royal duties could not be more different to Andrew’s grand ways and bullish nature. 

Meanwhile, it was clear to me that Sophie’s previous career in public relations has served her well as she articulately and passionately spoke to university students about her work with female peace builders.

Next week, Edward and Sophie will celebrate their 27th wedding anniversary and their very modern marriage continues to thrive. After the turbulence of the past few years, the King must be grateful to have them by his side.