Why Queen Elizabeth II disliked ‘tongue tied' Sophie Wessex

Queen Elizabeth II was deeply unimpressed by her youngest son, Prince Edward’s girlfriend, Sophie.

Sophie Wessex, who is now the Duchess of Edinburgh, largely shocked Her Majesty for not being a typical blue blood girlfriend.

Ingrid Seward told the Times: "Sophie wasn't from that world. She'd never encountered anything like the royal family and was very nervous, shy and tongue-tied when she first met the Queen, who as a result thought she was a bit dull and told a friend: 'You wouldn't notice her in a crowd.'

She added: "But the more she saw of her, the more she liked her, especially as she made a big effort with Prince Philip, learning to ride, taking up carriage driving. The Queen always liked people who could deal with her husband. Sophie might be low-key but she's a lot smarter than people give her credit for."