Diana and Sophie, Countess of Wessex

[Mermaid1962]

Definitely. The press did that with Viscountess Linley as well. MAJESTY magazine had her on the cover with a headline as to whether or not she was the "new Diana." Then there was an article about her style and so on. I think that Sophie didn't "spark the same interest" in part because she married the the Queen's third son, who wasn't very popular at the time, and also because she married in 1999 after all the uproar and scandal of that decade. There was more cynicism at the time of Edward and Sophie's marriage than there was during the 80s.

Originally Posted by Mirabel

I think it was the press who hoped Sophie would turn into another media star like Diana!
But, whether it was intentional or inadvertent, she never sparked the same interest that Diana or Sarah Ferguson did.

[muriel]

I suspect that Sophie and Diana did not really have much of a relationship at all. Sophie's relationship with Edward was only made public in 1994, by which time Diana had been separated from Charles for some time. They probably met on a handful of occassions, but I really doubt if there was any material interaction between the women.

The press, no doubt, raked up the whole issue about the physical similarity between Diana and Sophie once Sophie's engagement to Edward was announced (1999?). However, I think the two women were very different individuals, and never really "competing".

[Sternchen]

Originally Posted by Hissy

As for Swessex being a "mature beauty", I will never think so. Even the Queen doesn't think so and Sophie is her favorite as I am repeatedly told.

Just wondering, how do you know what the Queen thinks?

[Hissy]

Ha! Hello Sternchen! No, I don't know what the Queen thinks. I was referring to a comment the Queen made about how you wouldn't notice SW in a room of people (kind way of saying she's unremarkable.) I like your innocent !

[Meadow]

I don't buy the Diana interrogating Sophie in from of the Queen, QM and Margaret she just wouldn't do it. The woman had manners she may off asked a question or two but I doubt it was anything like what has been written. Going by the story the Queen was happy enough to sit there and listen and not do anything something else I don't buy! She can handle polititions she could handle Diana. Besides how long does it take to look at a car? This also happened in 93 Diana was already seperated from Charles she may off been trying to warn her some way but I don't believe she did anything so cruel or stupid and then tell everyone about it. It is true about Sophie she is unnoticable always has been even her wedding was blah. We only heard a lot about her when she had that troubled pregnancy and then when the babies were born.

[Mermaid1962]

I remember comparisons being made when Sophie was first known to be Edward's girlfriend: a blonde, blue-eyed young woman being chased to and from work by the press. I remember a quote from one photographer saying that the resemblance was eerie--until Sophie turned her back toward them.

Originally Posted by muriel

The press, no doubt, raked up the whole issue about the physical similarity between Diana and Sophie once Sophie's engagement to Edward was announced (1999?). However, I think the two women were very different individuals, and never really "competing".

[Tyger]

Originally Posted by Meadow

It is true about Sophie she is unnoticable always has been even her wedding was blah.

A bit of a thread-nap, I know, but just have to say: I thought the wedding was charming. Loved her tiara - so understated. The little girls and boys she had dressed in white with black capes were unexpectedly appealing. When the couple was walking out of the church you can see a radiant smile on one of the little girls - so sweet.

Also - truth to say, I am not a particular fan of how the Queen dresses - but at the Wessex wedding, I loved the color she chose and her hat was great (I'm not a hat person, either, but that hat was lovely). And the Queen was clearly happy.

[Tsar bobo Iv]

i always wonder what kind of relationship did they have
http://images5.fanpop.com/image/phot...20-493-700.png i found this picture to be very interesting because i never thought they really ever met each other

[suztav]

Who knows what is really said behind closed doors. However, it's now commonly known that Diana called reporters. I wouldn't be surprised if she felt some level of jealously at Sophie -- for any number of reasons. As we now know, Diana was not the most stable of women.

[COUNTESS]

Diana was, probably, not always stable, but she would have always outshone Sophie. Maybe Sophie didn't care. They often look alike, too bad for Sophie. Diana was first. Sophie was fortunate to have more stability and a husband who didn't have a lover.

[Mirabel]

Other than coloring, I don't think there was much resemblance between Diana and Sophie.

I agree that they probably had little to do with one another, due to the timeline.

[Tyger]

Originally Posted by COUNTESS

Diana [...] would have always outshone Sophie.

I don't think so. Sophie was a seriously beautiful young woman in the days she was dating Edward. Still is. She has matured elegantly. Perhaps there would be fans of Diana that would have been jealous of their idol's pre-eminence, but all-in-all I think Sophie would have had those who liked her and there would be others who would like Diana, and those who would like both, or neither.

Originally Posted by COUNTESS

Maybe Sophie didn't care. They often look alike, too bad for Sophie. Diana was first.

Sophie probably didn't - her focus seems to have always been squarely on her family. Diana's fans seem to care, though. What is the significance of Diana 'being first'? Diana could have taken lessons from Sophie, as it turns out. IMO Sophie comports herself in a way that it would have been nice for Diana to so have done. If Diana had kept her personal life private and proceeded with dignity and grace - what a different story it would have been for her, her sons, her nation.

Curious why you say that its 'too bad for Sophie' to look like Diana? Superficially they do but in reality Sophie's looks are very different from Diana's.

Originally Posted by COUNTESS

Sophie was fortunate to have more stability and a husband who didn't have a lover.

As we know, she didn't have a husband who had a lover - initially. She wound up making other choices and fell in love elsewhere - and that started the thread unravelling.

As for Sophie, never assume I'd say. One never knows the private trials ar tribulations of anyone. You assume - as do I - that all is well with Sophie, but that is because she is a discreet woman who keeps her life secure with clear boundaries. As it happens we know that Sophie has had a enormously difficult time around her pregnancies - but we as the public have never heard her complaints.

[roseroyal]

Originally Posted by Tsar bobo Iv

i always wonder what kind of relationship did they have
http://images5.fanpop.com/image/phot...20-493-700.png i found this picture to be very interesting because i never thought they really ever met each other

I love this photo- 2 of my favorite Royal ladies!
I also love Sophie's hat.

[Rocketmom]

As much as I adored Diana, I tend to think that she wouldn't spend much time around someone she perceived as being competition for the media attention. I always felt that Diana deliberately dressed to take the attention away from other members of the royal family. Perhaps I'm wrong, but it seemed she wanted to be the star of the show, and that's why she was fine with Fergie. Fergie got some attention from the media but usually not the good kind. Side by side with Diana, there was no comparison.

[Dman]

You know, I think Diana would've really liked The Countess of Wessex. Diana was going through a lot when Sophie first came on the royal scene in the 90's but I would like to think they would've built up a friendship over the years.

I don't think Diana would've tried to steal the spotlight from Sophie in anyway. I don't think she would have done that to Sophie. I also don't think they would be competing against each other either.

I think Diana tried to be the best Princess of Wales she could be. She dressed well because it went with the job and also Diana mentioned in an interview she did with Charles in the 80's that Charles liked Diana to dress well and he actually took a great interest in her wardrobe. I did think Diana stood out a bit more amongst members of the royal family. Sometimes I think that happened because of Diana's youth and her style was a little more updated. Some of the other royals used to dress older for their age for some reason. I don't think Diana dressed to the nines to hurt her in-laws.

[roseroyal]

Originally Posted by Dman

You know, I think Diana would've really liked The Countess of Wessex. Diana was going through a lot when Sophie first came on the royal scene in the 90's but I would like to think they would've built up a friendship over the years.

I don't think Diana would've tried to steal the spotlight from Sophie in anyway. I don't think she would have done that to Sophie. I also don't think they would be competing against each other either.

I think Diana tried to be the best Princess of Wales she could be. She dressed well because it went with the job and also Diana mentioned in an interview she did with Charles in the 80's that Charles liked Diana to dress well and he actually took a great interest in her wardrobe. I did think Diana stood out a bit more amongst members of the royal family. Sometimes I think that happened because of Diana's youth and her style was a little more updated. Some of the other royals used to dress older for their age for some reason. I don't think Diana dressed to the nines to hurt her in-laws.

Agree with all said here! I think Diana and Sophie care/cared about the same causes, although they are different people. I think Sophie would have been a good friend for Diana. Diana, Sophie, and Cathrine would have made a good trio of friends. I also can imagine Diana doting on Louise.

[Meadow]

If Diana didn't dress well she would off gotten bagged out for it. She was also a very tall and pretty woman she was going to stand out no matter what. And as someone else pointed out her fashions were more up to date then most of the other Royal Ladies. The press are the ones who made the huge deal about her clothes and what she wore. Like all women she liked to look nice and she had a position she had to dress well for. I think her and Sophie would have gotten along, Diana and Edward were said to be good friends. I think Diana served as a great what not to do and Edward was very careful with Sophie. She has turned out to be a wonderful addition to the Royal Family and she and Edward seem very happy together.

[roseroyal]

[QUOTE=Meadow;1484145 Diana and Edward were said to be good friends. I think Diana served as a great what not to do and Edward was very careful with Sophie. She has turned out to be a wonderful addition to the Royal Family and she and Edward seem very happy together.[/QUOTE]
Edward said as much in their pre wedding interview- that he was friends with Diana, and that he took his time with Sophie so their marriage did not go south like his brother's.

[Molly2101]

There was an article from 1993 or 1994 that was written about Sophie's first time at Buckingham Palace, and it stated that Diana came in to see "who was replacing her" (words to that effect). Of course it's an article and there are often not true, nor are they ever "ver batim", but it probably did have some truth to it. It said that Diana met Sophie and took an immediate disliking to her, simply because she felt she was being replaced. Of course there was no way a girlfriend of Edward's would ever replace the girlfriend/wife of Charles, not just because of status but because of the fact that hardly anyone knew who Edward was. Diana also apparently was very rude to Sophie, particularly regarding her "common" upbringing, which apparently caused Sophie to leave the room very upset. I imagine Diana was bitter toward any woman in the family, but more so to Sophie because of the comparisons physically between them.

I think initially Diana would not have liked Sophie, and she perhaps would have dragged Sarah into her "hate Sophie" camp, but overtime she would have probably grown to like her and enjoy her company. She would have perhaps seen that Sophie was not going to steal her limelight and that she was just content to be with the man she fell for. I could see Diana perhaps resenting Sophie slightly that she and Edward got off much lighter in the pressure factor, but she would have hopefully seen how happy they were together and been happy for them.

It's very difficult to say really, but it's a shame we will never find out. It's also why it's lovely to see Catherine and Sophie being friendly, particularly when Louise is involved. It was lovely of William to pick Louise as one of his bridesmaids, even if it was perhaps to ensure a family member was in the group.

[Kit]

Yeah I remember that article and as far as I can recall Princess Anne apparently told Diana she had been a downright bitch towards Sophie. If it is not true it makes at least a good tale.