Queen Elizabeth's 'true favourite' in the Royal Family who she called 'Mama'

ok.co.uk:

After losing her own mother, Mary, when she was 40, the Duchess of Edinburgh’s unique bond with the late Queen Elizabeth was something she cherished very deeply. “With the exception of her daughter Anne, the Queen was closer to Sophie than any of the other royal women,” says biographer Ingrid Seward. “It really was a genuine closeness, and Elizabeth was always Sophie’s biggest confidante.The Queen found her very down to earth, because she refused to have expensive security and things like that, and she loved her lack of airs and graces.

I think she saw Sophie as a bit of a surrogate daughter, too.” Suggesting their relationship was indeed a maternal one, a speech in October 2019 famously saw Sophie refer to Elizabeth as “Mama”.Their affection for one another became increasingly apparent over the years, and they would often be seen smiling and laughing together at official events.

Following the Queen’s death, aged 96, in September 2022, Sophie was clearly distraught, and she was seen in tears as she read messages among the sea of flowers laid outside Balmoral.

She also wept as she and husband Prince Edward watched their two children, James and Louise, stood vigil by the Queen’s coffin in Westminster Abbey. “Sophie had a wonderful relationship with the Queen, and she never saw it as a chore,” says royal writer and TV commentator Katie Nicholl. “She was very willing to step up and provide support when needed, and she did it with quiet enthusiasm, and always with a cheerful smile.