Why Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Wore Headphones at the Funeral of Italy’s Former President

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh traveled to Italy for a somber reason.

On Tuesday, Prince Edward’s wife attended the non-believing state funeral of Giorgio Napolitano in Rome. The former president of Italy died on September 22 at the age of 98.

Sophie stepped out solo at the Palazzo Montecitorio, and Couture and the Royals posted photos on x of her wearing headphones during the service. The Duchess of Edinburgh, 58, was probably listening to a translation of what was said.

“The Duchess of Edinburgh sits in the front row with heads of state and members of the Napolitano family. Sophie is said to represent King Charles III and is the only royal present,” the fan blog wrote.

King Charles’ sister-in-law was just a few seats away from French President Emmanuel Macron, who welcomed the King and Queen Camilla on a three-day state visit to France from September 20-22. Highlights of the trip included a glamorous formal banquet at the Palace of Versailles and stops at iconic Parisian landmarks such as the Elysée Palace and Notre Dame.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attends Giorgio Napolitano’s infidel state funeral on September 26.

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Although Sophie’s trip to the funeral is not listed in the Royal Diary or Royal Family Court Circular, it is common for senior British royals to send relatives or close friends and associates to funerals on their behalf. Queen Elizabeth has rarely attended funerals, and it appears that King Charles and Prince William are following the same custom by being represented by family members instead.

In January, Princess Anne represented King Charles at the funeral of King Constantine of Greece, while Lady Gabriella Windsor went in place of Prince William. Lady Gabriella, 41, is the only daughter of Prince Michael of Kent, who is Queen Elizabeth’s first cousin, and Baroness Marie Christine von Reibnitz, who is Princess Michael. It was a poignant choice for Prince William to ask Gabriella to represent him at King Constantine’s funeral as the late monarch was their best man.

Sophie and Prince Edward have stepped into senior royal roles during the past few years of changes in the royal family, with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down from their working royal roles in 2020 and Prince Andrew stepping back from public life following his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein in 2022 and most importantly, the death of Queen Elizabeth last September.

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Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince Edward in Edinburgh, Scotland in March 2023. Jane Barlow – Pool/Getty

In March, to coincide with Prince Edward’s 59th birthday, King Charles named his youngest sibling the Duke of Edinburgh, a title previously held by their father, Prince Philip. In the same stroke, Sophie became the Duchess of Edinburgh – a title last held by the late Queen Elizabeth before the throne, which was also a deliberate link to her mother-in-law, with whom she was famously close.

Sophie and Edward visited Edinburgh for the first time with their new titles in March, with Edward calling it a “very special and slightly overwhelming day”. He then referred to Sophie as “my wife and my duchess”, prompting laughter from the audience. The couple married in 1999 and are parents to Lady Louise Windsor, 19, and James, Earl of Wessex, 15.

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Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh visits Gul Outdoor Therapy and Activity Center on September 14.

Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

It was Prince Philip’s wish that his youngest son be given the title of Duke of Edinburgh after his death. Towards the end of his life, Prince Edward – along with Sophie – represented Philip at an awards ceremony for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Youth Volunteer Programme, which was set up in 1956 by Queen Elizabeth’s husband of 73 years.

After a short summer break during the month of August (a tradition that Queen Elizabeth honored during her record-breaking reign and that King Charles continued), Sophie was out and about on September 14th visiting the Gul Outdoor Therapy and Activity Center and the Stable and Wick Bakery and Farm Shop in Salisbury, England.

Meanwhile, Prince Edward is currently visiting Turkey, visiting to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss defense and trade relations between Turkey and the United Kingdom, Bloomberg reported.

Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, talks to students and teachers while visiting Kabatas Boys High School in Istanbul, Turkey, on September 25.

Mehmet Murat Onel/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

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Source: HIS Education