For months in 2021, the Earl and Countess of Wessex were desperately trying to make themselves happen. They were doing straight-up interviews, they were pushing themselves forward as “senior royals,” they were telling everyone that they were the Queen’s favorites and they would step up after Prince Philip’s passing. Prince Charles put the kibosh on that last summer, making it known that Edward would not get the Duke of Edinburgh title and that he found their PR campaign irritating and pointless. Edward and Sophie have been pretty quiet for months. And then Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, was named the royal patron of the National Theatre, which is apparently a patronage Edward had his eye on:
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has secured the role of patron of the National Theatre – a responsibility previously held by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Meghan lost the patronage last year after she and Prince Harry confirmed they would not return to working royal life.
Reflecting on the choice of recipient for the prestigious position, royal journalist Richard Eden said this indicated a sidelining of the Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. The couple has two children, Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and James, Viscount Severn, 13, who are the Queen’s grandchildren.
The Daily Mail’s Diary Editor tweeted: “This couldn’t be a clearer sign that there will be no role for Prince Edward and his family in Prince Charles’s slimmed-down monarchy. Edward would have been a natural fit for this role.”
It didn’t really occur to me but… yes, Edward probably should have gotten it? He would have been a better fit for the National Theatre patronage than Camilla, even if Camilla “enjoys theater” or whatever. This makes me wonder, again, why certain patronages are being handed out and to whom. It’s been a year since Buckingham Palace took the Sussexes’ patronages, and I think the Queen wanted to wait this long to pass them out. Will she wait another year to pass out Prince Andrew’s patronages? As for Sophie and Edward… yeah, it looks like the Great Phase-Out has begun. Charles thinks Sophie and Edward are tacky and don’t deserve to be full-time senior royals. Also: I genuinely do believe Kate probably wanted this patronage too. Camilla really forced her way into it.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 10: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Andrew, Duke of York attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 10, 2018 in London, England. The Queen and members of the Royal Family are attending the annual Festival of Remembrance to commemorate all those who have lost their lives in conflicts and will mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.,Image: 534600424, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR SEVEN DAYS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – [email protected] London: 44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: 1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: 49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: 34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 10: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 10, 2018 in London, England. The Queen and members of the Royal Family are attending the annual Festival of Remembrance to commemorate all those who have lost their lives in conflicts and will mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.,Image: 534600473, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR SEVEN DAYS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – [email protected] London: 44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: 1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: 49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: 34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 10: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 10, 2018 in London, England. The Queen and members of the Royal Family are attending the annual Festival of Remembrance to commemorate all those who have lost their lives in conflicts and will mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.,Image: 534600579, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR SEVEN DAYS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – [email protected] London: 44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: 1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: 49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: 34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
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The royal family welcome Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II back to Buckingham Palace at Trooping the Colour, the official celebration of the Queen’s birthday on Saturday 8 June 2019 at Buckingham Palace, London. This year the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards trooped their colour. Pictured: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge. LFI
Picture by Julie Edwards/LFI/Avalon.
All usages must be credited Julie Edwards/LFI/Avalon.,Image: 536206698, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – [email protected] London: 44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: 1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: 49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Julie Edwards/LFI/Avalon / Avalon
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward Earl of Wessex during a visit to the Autumn RHS Chelsea Flower Show on September 20, 2021 in London, England. This year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show was delayed from its usual spring dates due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which also prompted its cancellation last year. Previously, only two World Wars had caused the event’s suspension.,Image: 633059403, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Chris Jackson / Avalon
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The Queen and the Earl of Wessex watching double Paralympic gold medallist Kadeena Cox, the first Batonbearer, marking the start of the 16th Queen’s Baton Relay, at Buckingham Palace, London, on 7 October 2021
Camera Press Rota,Image: 637047786, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Camera Press Rota, Model Release: no, Credit line: Giles Anderson / Avalon
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- Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, at the Albert Hall, London, for the British Legion festival of Remembrance,Image: 643068348, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
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Windsor, UNITED KINGDOM – Members of The Royal Family attend day three of the Royal Windsor Horse Show, at Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, UK.
Pictured: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, Sophie. Countess of Wessex
BACKGRID USA 3 JULY 2021
USA: 1 310 798 9111 / [email protected]
UK: 44 208 344 2007 / [email protected]
*UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children
Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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Windsor, UNITED KINGDOM – Members of The Royal Family attend day three of the Royal Windsor Horse Show, at Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, UK.
Pictured: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Sophie. Countess of Wessex
BACKGRID USA 3 JULY 2021
USA: 1 310 798 9111 / [email protected]
UK: 44 208 344 2007 / [email protected]
*UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children
Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
