Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward have been tipped to "replace" Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who now reside in California, stepped down from royal duties in early 2020. Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, questions arose over whether the "House of Edinburgh " could replace the "House of Sussex". Sophie, 60, and Edward, 61, who will celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary later this week, have become increasingly popular members of the Royal Family.

Discussing the two couples, ITV's Royal Editor Chris Ship claimed: "I don't think replace like for like. I think they could be an additional resource for Buckingham Palace. Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh now, recently celebrated his 60th birthday, so they're not spring chickens either. But I take your point that they are that sort of generation in between William and Kate and the King and Queen."

Sources have also discussed Sophie's recent joint engagement alongside Prince William, which was dubbed a major success.

The nephew-and-aunt duo toasted each other with gin at the Royal Cornwall Show earlier this month.

Sophie, who married Edward in 1999, was earlier ranked the fourth hardest-working royal - with her number of engagements last number revealed. The royal reportedly carried out 257 engagements in 2024.

The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson also pointed out: “We currently have the King and the Queen and we have the Waleses. The Yorks are excommunicated, the Sussexes have disappeared.

“We don't actually have many working rules. We need Sophie and Edward."