Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, is often referred to as Kate Middleton's “royal sister” for a reason. Prince Edward's wife has shown her strength throughout 2024, when Princess Kate stepped back from her official role within the royal family. And now a new report has been released on how Duchess Sophie took the “pressure” off the princess during a difficult year.

In a new article, the Daily Mail calls Duchess Sophie “the unsung hero of Christmas,” referring to her constant support for Kate Middleton. The magazine reports, “Whether singing carols or making mince pies, Sophie has not hesitated to step up to the plate while Princess Kate has gradually returned to her duties following her cancer treatment.”

Sophie's busy 2024 schedule included attending Qatar's state dinner at Buckingham Palace earlier this month. Princess Kate missed this dinner and attended a small gathering during the day.

This is not the first time that Duchess Sophie's “sisterly” support of Princess Kate has come under scrutiny. Last month, royal writer Ingrid Sward told “Hello!” magazine, “They have a sisterly bond, and Sophie is the big sister that Kate never had.”

Sward also noted that neither Kate nor Sophie come from aristocratic backgrounds, giving them a unique bond in the royal family. Sward told the magazine, “They both had really long relationships with the people who would become their husbands, and Sophie lived in a palace.” By the time they got married, they were much more knowledgeable about what they were getting into than the royal brides before them.”

“They have something in common that probably formed so many bonds in the beginning,” Sward continued.

Not surprisingly, Duchess Sophie has already been described as the “secret weapon of the royal family.” Her continued support of Princess Kate shows what a great asset she is to the Royal Family, and will continue to be for years to come.