Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, was said to have brushed aside anxiety over a potential breach of royal protocol during an emotional charity engagement.
The 60-year-old wife of Prince Edward was celebrated for her work for The Lighthouse charity, for which she serves as royal patron, by the organisation’s co-founder.
The Lighthouse describes its mission as: "To address poverty of resources, relationships, identity and spirit in communities across Surrey and Hampshire."
**ARE YOU READING THIS ON OUR APP? DOWNLOAD NOW FOR THE BEST GB NEWS EXPERIENCE**
Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, brushed away fears of breaking royal protocol during her work with The Lighthouse charity
|GETTY
Erik Jespersen, the charity’s co-founder, glowed about Sophie’s commitment to The Lighthouse after she became associated in 2020.
In those five years, the Duchess has spent time at three of the nonprofit sites in Woking, Barnsbury and Aldershot.
More than anything, Jespersen was amazed with Sophie’s "honesty and willingness to engage" when meeting people receiving care from the charity.
"We had one incident where she was sitting around the table talking to a group of people, and they started asking her about the royal family at Christmas, and I was like, 'Oh no, there's probably some protocol around this kind of thing'," the charity boss remembered fearing.
The Lighthouse's co-founder praised the Duchess for her openness when speaking with clients
|GETTY
Despite his concern, Sophie was totally undeterred.
"She was brilliant. She was humorous and honest and just really willing to engage," an amazed Jespersen recalled.
He felt that the anecdote reflected a pattern of behaviour for Sophie, which saw her ignore convention and seek a deeper engagement with the work of The Lighthouse.
"She is actually the one who sits down and has deep conversations with people and – you know, 'Forget the schedule, forget the program, I really want to hear their stories'," Jespersen characterised.
"She sat around a table with some of our homeless clients and just really got into their stories in a beautiful way. They absolutely loved her interest in them," he remembered of another moment while speaking with Hello! Magazine.
Sophie was praised for helping people understand that they were 'valued and that their story is important'
|GETTY
Sophie also took a hands-on role in putting on a Christmas dinner for over 200 Ukrainian refugees for The Lighthouse in 2023.
Reflecting on the party, Jespersen said: "There's been tears and real deep emotion being shared, and she just holds the space and lets them speak, lets them know they're being heard, lets them know that they're valued and that their story is important."
"I think she loves it if it's really meaningful, it's not just a token, but it really makes an impact.
"Everything from serving coffees in our social enterprise, or serving Christmas dinner, or sorting out baby clothes and donations, whatever's helpful. She just wants to get stuck in," The Lighthouse’s co-founder celebrated.
LATEST ROYAL NEWS:
The Duchess of Edinburgh serves as patron of The Lighthouse and has worked with them since 2020
|GETTY
Jespersen's glowing report of Sophie’s work comes as Buckingham Palace confirmed she will be a key presence during the Royal Family’s commemoration of VJ Day next week.
The Duchess of Edinburgh will visit Sarum Manor Care Home in Salisbury to meet with Royal Marines veteran, James ‘Jim’ Wren, who is 105 years old.
As Patron of The Java Far East Prisoner of War Club 1942, the Duchess will sit down for tea with Wren and his family to hear about his remarkable service and survival during World War Two.
This year’s anniversary on Friday, August 15, marks 80 years since Japan surrendered in 1945, officially ending the Second World War across the globe.