Duchess Sophie clearly emotional as she pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth in Malta
Sophie shared a very close relationship with her mother-in-law the late Queen and appeared emotional during a recent visit in Malta.
The Duchess of Edinburgh appeared emotional on Wednesday as she toured a house once lived in by Queen Elizabeth II.
Sophie and her husband Prince Edward toured Villa Guardamangia in Malta where the late Queen and Prince Philip lived between 1949 and 1951 when the prince was stationed in Malta as a serving Royal Navy officer.
During the tour, the couple heard about restoration work taking place on the property. The pair were also taken on a tour of the house and walked through an exhibition of photos of the late Queen and Philip set up in the garden.
Edward and Sophie posed for photographs on the balcony as they recreated those taken of Prince Philip and the late Queen years ago, The Mirror reports.
Bells were also sounded midway through the tour, which were rung specially by a local priest in honour of the couple's visit.
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In photographs taken of Sophie at the home, the duchess appeared visibly moved to be at the property, which meant so much to the late Queen, who passed away in 2022.
It is believed the Duchess of Edinburgh shared a close relationship with her mother-in-law and was left heartbroken by her death.
Judi James, a body language expert, told Express.co.uk at the time that Sophie’s close relationship with the Queen was easily visible when she stepped out at Balmoral Castle to see the flowers left for Her Late Majesty after she had died.
She said: "When Edward chose Sophie he gave his mother the most amazing gift.
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"Sophie’s relationship with the Queen grew closer and closer to the point where they were friends as well as daughter and mother-in-law.
“Both the late Queen and Prince Philip always looked relaxed and happy in Sophie’s company and there was a moment at Sandringham at Christmas in 2002 when Sophie stood grinning, and the Queen suddenly reached up to touch her hat with the fondest of smiles in a totally rare moment of public affection and spontaneity.”
Sophie and Prince Edward are currently in Malta to mark the 60th anniversary of Malta's independence and celebrate the country's shared heritage and continuing collaboration with the UK.
