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Sophie

Saving the Royal Family: the new Royal biography of the Duchess of Edinburgh by bestselling author Sean Smith

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Sophie

By: Sean Smith
Narrated by: Alix Dunmore
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About this listen

 Sophie has become the figure within the family who is the comforter to its members and a reassuring and inspiring presence for the country. She is a modern woman and yet a throwback to happier Royal times. She is now the 'glue that binds'.

During some of the darkest days of the Royal Family, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, has quietly risen to become the respected and much-loved face of a family in turmoil.

In this inspiring biography, bestselling author Sean Smith tells the remarkable story of Sophie Rhys-Jones; a young woman with a winning smile who captured the heart of a Prince and, subsequently, the nation.

From her fun-filled days in rural Kent and nervous beginnings at the Palace, to becoming a powerful voice on world issues and being acclaimed as a 'trailblazer' by Hillary Clinton; this is an intimate portrait of a woman who has made significant achievements while enduring the pressures of life as a wife, mother and Royal. Whether it's keeping important secrets, navigating tabloid exposés or surviving near-death experiences, Sophie has done so with dignity and strength.

Inside, discover the secret of Sophie's long-lasting love for Prince Edward; the unshakeable bond she had with the late Queen; her great friendship with the future Queen, Kate; and her frosty relationship with Princess Diana. And how, while the Royal Family gathers itself after the deaths of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip; the cancer battles of King Charles and the Princess of Wales; amid a media obsession with Harry and Meghan - not to mention Prince Andrew - it is Sophie who is saving the day.©2025 Sean Smith Europe Gender Studies Great Britain Politics & Activism Royalty Social Sciences Women
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Overall I enjoyed the book. She does seem like the woman you see. Caring and down to earth. Meghan should have listened to her.

Interesting woman

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I brought this audio book as a huge Sophie fan. Books about Sophie are sparse, mostly lots of picture books about the Royal Wedding but nothing substantial. I was so excited to see at last a modern biography and I wasn’t disappointed overall. However, the book lacks some depth. It’s rather a short and lightweight book, just about five hours long. The author has done a wonderful job bringing a wonderful portrait of Sophie into view, but I just wish he had delved deeper, and spent longer on the important topics such as the wedding, Sophie’s issues having children and her recent royal life. An enjoyable listen but i feel Sophie deserves a more
In-depth biography by an established royal biographer such as Katie Nichol or Penny Junor.

A Enjoyable Listen - But Sophie Deserves More

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Beautifully read which made me look forward to listening each bedtime. So well written. My first experience of learning so much about Sophie. An education and admiration of this woman .

Narrator

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It’s lovely when someone writes something nice and natural to listen to to you can tell how nice how Sophie and Edward really do match each other and the writer has brought that across wonderfully such a lovely lesson about two people that many of us don’t know but feel would be lovely to know no wonder our late queen loved Sophie I’m sure she could tell they are perfect together so lovely to have a author say something so nice about people nice sound of the reader perfect match to the book 📕

lovely soft easy listening and gentle voice telling nice life of how two people meet

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I was genuinely intrigued to listen to this book and learn more about Sophie. It’s a puff piece and for this reason it does not do Sophie justice. If you like listening to books that has phrases like “Sophie’s smile lit up the room” littered all the way through then it might be for you.

Personally I found this book very cringeworthy and laughed out loud on a number of occasions as I listened to the sycophantic narrative. The book lacks objectivity to say the least. Listen to this and you might well be persuaded that Duchess Sophie does indeed walk on water.

Personally I prefer to listen to books that are more objective and balanced.

100% puff piece

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