The Duchess of Edinburgh has spoken candidly about her emotional reaction to inheriting the late Queen Elizabeth II's former title.
Sophie made the comments during a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, commemorating the Srebrenica Genocide's 30th anniversary.
Prince Edward's wife acknowledged the significance of becoming the Duchess of Edinburgh in 2023.
"First of all, it was quite large shoes to fill, because not as many of the population alive today will remember but the Queen was the Duchess of Edinburgh for the first few years when she and my father-in-law first married," she told the Mirror.
The Duchess of Edinburgh has spoken candidly about the emotional weight of inheriting the late Queen Elizabeth II's former title.
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Sophie, 60, described the transition as deeply personal. "For me, it was quite an emotional thing to sort of step into her shoes, it felt like quite a big moment."
The royal also reflected on her practical approach to supporting the monarchy.
She said: "But of course, being practical my role and my husband's role is to support the King as it was to support the Queen, and we are fortunate because we are able to not be in front and centre role.
"So it allows us the flexibility to explore our own interests and then also be available to do things like this, where the King asked if I would represent him here."
Sophie made the comments during a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, commemorating the Srebrenica Genocide's 30th anniversary.
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She revealed that she "quite liked" her previous title of Countess of Wessex before taking on the historic Edinburgh title.
The mother-of-two offered a frank assessment of her reputation as the royal family's "secret weapon" during the three-day visit.
"I like to fly under the radar," she shared. "It's all very well being a secret weapon but if no one knows, maybe it's too secret."
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Sophie became Duchess of Edinburgh after her husband Edward received the Duke title in March 2023.
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Her preference for maintaining a lower profile allows her to balance royal duties with personal interests whilst remaining available for significant diplomatic missions like the Bosnia and Herzegovina visit.
Sophie became Duchess of Edinburgh after her husband Edward received the Duke title in March 2023.
The title had previously been held by the late Queen for five years from 1947 until her accession to the throne in 1952.