The Duchess of Edinburgh stepped up as Princess Kate's caring best friend during the somber anniversary event in London on 11/11/9/10 — and now Sophie, 59, has been given her own special role in honoring the fallen soldiers of Britain.

In the Royal First, Sophie led the Armistice Service at the British National Arboretum Solo and marked 2 minutes of silence between Britain and Europe. This was a departure from her last appearance at the event in 2020, when Sophie's husband, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied her.

On the annual Armistice Day, another member of the royal family is seen chosen to represent the monarchy. In 2023, Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim Lawrence led the event.

The Duchess — wearing a black Armani coat and pillbox hat along with poppy pins to honor veterans — laid poppy-covered wreaths in honor of those who died fighting for their country. The message in her wreath was "in honor of our fallen." Sophie

Sophie, a colonel of the Royal Electromechanical Corps, also read a moving poem for the Fall by Lawrence Vinyon during the Armistice Day event.

The Duchess of Edinburgh has played an increasingly role within the Royal family in the past few years and was said to be particularly close to her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II. Sophie also shares a bond with her nephew Prince William and his family, especially Princess Kate and Princess Charlotte, who are taking young Charlotte to shopping in London.

Sophie has been called the "royal sister" of the Princess of Wales, and even during Sunday's remembrance Sunday, the Duchess had a comforting hand on Kate's back as the Princess, who is battling cancer this year, attended her second major royal event since this summer.