Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II, has always been reserved and cautious, avoiding the limelight unlike some other working royals. However, according to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, Edward's popularity will continue to rise as he dedicates his time to highlighting the good work of others and supporting King Charles in his cancer battle alongside his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. Fitzwilliams notes that Sophie remains the true star, and her love and support for Edward drew public attention to him. The Duchess's main charitable interests lie in preventable blindness, preventing sexual violence in conflict zones, and health and gender equality. Sophie is considered a reliable figure when carrying out royal duties, both with and without her family. Ingrid Seward, a royal expert and author of Edward's biography, says the key to his success was his marriage to Sophie. She explains that Edward has always been good and diligent, but it went unnoticed. Seward adds, "If you notice, he doesn't get much attention when she's not with him." Over the past few years, the couple have attended at least 100 engagements and meetings annually.
