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Daily Record
Daily Record
Entertainment
Susan Knox & Ketsuda Phoutinane

'Secretly royal' TV star who married into the family before Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle isn't the only actress in the royal family. Indeed, The Firm's extended family is so expansive that you may not know that the mum of one of Prince George and Princess Charlotte's cousins is a TV star.

You may recognise Sophie Lara Winkleman from Peep Show and Two and a Half Men, as well as for her familiar surname as her half-sister is Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman.

But she's also known as Lady Frederick Windsor, a title Sophie gained when she married into the royal family at Hampton Court Palace in 2009. Her father-in-law is Prince Michael of Kent, a first cousin of the Queen.

Unlike Meghan, the actress didn't have to quit her career and carry out official duties, and she still takes on regular roles, the Mirror reported.

Born in Primrose Hill, London, on August 5, 1980, Sophie is the daughter of children's author Cindy Black and Barry Winkleman. She has made a number of impressive appearances on the silver screen over the years, including Peep Show, Sanditon and The Chronicles of Narnia.

She and Lord Frederick Windsor, the son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, tied the knot on September 12 in front of all the senior royals. Following their wedding, the couple moved to the US so that Sophie could further pursue her acting career.

Sophia Winkleman and her husband Lord Frederick Windsor (Getty Images)

The couple have two children, who are close to Prince George and Princess Charlotte as they all go to the same school.

While living in California, their first daughter, Maud Elizabeth Daphne Marina Windsor, was born in 2013. Maud is the great-granddaughter of Prince George, Duke of Kent, as well as a great-great granddaughter of King George V.

As the 54th in line to the throne, Maud is named after several of her royal ancestors. Her first name is after Queen Maud of Norway who was a daughter of King Edward VII and Elizabeth is in honour of the Queen.

Her other middle name, Daphne, is after Sophie's beloved grandmother and Marina was the name of Lord Frederick's grandmother, Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark.

Sophie Winkleman played Big Suze on Peep Show (Channel 4)

The couple later moved back to the UK and welcomed their second daughter, Isabella Alexandra May Windsor, at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on January 16, 2016.

Sophie became the new royal patron of Children's Surgery Foundation and later became the first female patron of School-Home Support. As Lady Frederick Windsor, she has been pictured standing on the Buckingham Palace balcony at national events, such as Trooping the Colour.

She recently joined the rest of the family at the memorial service for The Duke of Edinburgh and at the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral for Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee.

Princess Charlotte and Sophie Winkleman's daughter Maud Windsor (centre) were bridesmaids at Princess Eugenie's wedding (Getty Images)

The actress was also a guest at the 2011 wedding of the Prince William and Kate Middleton, as well as at the 2019 wedding of her sister-in-law Lady Gabriella Windsor. Speaking to Daily Mail's Sebastian Shakespeare, Sophie revealed that she sang at Lady Gabriella's wedding.

The talented soprano said: "I sang one of my sister-in-law's favourite songs, Will You Love Me Tomorrow. There were a few tears but I'm not sure if it was because they were moved or wanted me to stop!"

Sophie has also spoken in detail about her daughter Maud's close bond with Prince George. In an interview with Hello, she said: "We were invited to tea at Kensington Palace just before Princess Charlotte was born.

"Maud and George got on very well… He is a very clever, articulate little boy and was speaking long before other toddlers his age."

Maud was also pictured next to Princess Charlotte when they both served as bridesmaids at Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank on October 12, 2018.

The young royals were pictured making each other laugh - something that is unsurprising given how the trio attended the same school together in London.

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