#Singing #troubles #Duchess #Edinburgh #joins #Christmas #carols #pulls #crackers #charity #visit #reports #left #039furious039 #Omid #Scobie039s #claims #Endgame
- The Duchess of Edinburgh visited the Disability Initiative in Surrey
- READ MORE: Harry and Meghan release slick video that shows Duchess hugging veterans and taking selfies to highlight the ‘impact’ of their Archewell foundation – hours after Kate’s film with George, Charlotte and Louis at a baby bank
The Duchess of Edinburgh sang her troubles away this afternoon as she paid a Christmas visit to a charity of which she is patron – amid reports she was left ‘furious’ over the way she was depicted in Omid Scobie’s Endgame.
Royal mother-of-two Sophie, 58, wrapped up warm in a fluffy turtleneck jumper and black flared trousers as she visited the Disability Initiative in Surrey.
During her visit, she sang Christmas carols while enjoying a performance from the Carer’s Choir, pulled Christmas crackers and was awarded a special gift – a decoration labelling her the ‘World’s Best Patron’.
Sophie’s cheerful demeanour comes amid reports she was left reeling following claims made in Omid Scobie’s book Endgame that she did little to support the Duchess of Sussex when she was struggling in The Firm, according to sources.
Elsewhere in the book, Scobie labels both Sophie and Prince Edward as appearing ‘casually bigoted’ in reference to an interview they conducted after Meghan claimed members of the royal family had raised ‘concerns’ about the colour of Prince Archie’s skin before he was born.
![The Duchess of Edinburgh sang away her troubles during a visit to a disability charity in Surrey amid reports she was left 'furious' at claims made in Omid Scobie's book Endgame](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/13/21/78932697-12861157-image-a-14_1702502338845.jpg)
The Duchess of Edinburgh sang away her troubles during a visit to a disability charity in Surrey amid reports she was left ‘furious’ at claims made in Omid Scobie’s book Endgame
After the fallout from the book left the British Royal Family reeling, friends close to the Duchess have disputed many of the claims made by Scobie in the book and have jumped to her defence.
They told The Sun the opposite of Scobie’s claims are true, and that Sophie in fact went out of her way to make Meghan feel included and welcome in The Firm.
Friends close to the Duchess of Edinburgh insisted Sophie invited Meghan and Harry over for tea early on in their relationship to try and form a bond with her.
An insider described as a ‘senior royal source’ told the newspaper: ‘It was just the two of them at and they talked for hours. Meghan had so many questions and Sophie, who knows what it’s like navigating your way through the early days of transition from a commoner to a royal, gave freely of her advice.’
![During her visit to the Disability Initiative, of which Sophie is patron, she pulled some Christmas crackers with the staff members](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/13/21/78932685-12861157-image-a-15_1702502391412.jpg)
During her visit to the Disability Initiative, of which Sophie is patron, she pulled some Christmas crackers with the staff members
![And one from the top! Sophie got into the Christmas spirit as she sang and danced - and was even treated to a performance by the Carers Choir](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/13/21/78932695-12861157-image-a-16_1702502438385.jpg)
And one from the top! Sophie got into the Christmas spirit as she sang and danced – and was even treated to a performance by the Carers Choir
![As she joined in with the choir, Sophie busted some moves alongside other members of staff at the charity](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/13/21/78932689-12861157-image-a-17_1702502475032.jpg)
As she joined in with the choir, Sophie busted some moves alongside other members of staff at the charity
![The Duchess of Edinburgh joined staff members and volunteers for an afternoon tea - complete with wine](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/13/21/78932681-12861157-image-a-18_1702502517679.jpg)
The Duchess of Edinburgh joined staff members and volunteers for an afternoon tea – complete with wine
![Sophie was also gifted a special Christmas decoration whichsaid she was the 'Best Patron Ever'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/13/21/78932693-12861157-image-a-19_1702502554817.jpg)
Sophie was also gifted a special Christmas decoration whichsaid she was the ‘Best Patron Ever’
The source added that Sophie found Meghan ‘engaging’ and told her she could call any time.
‘She was quite surprised when that was the last she heard from Meghan. As she noted, it would’ve been nice to receive a return invitation to Frogmore Cottage,’ the source claimed.
Omid Scobie’s Endgame took aim at several members of The Firm including the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
The royal author accused Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh of ‘a royal screw up’ because of their reaction to Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview.
![Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, is said to be 'furious' about claims made in Omid Scobie's Endgame that she did not support Meghan Markle within the royal family](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/13/15/78915735-12859635-image-a-1_1702480624405.jpg)
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, is said to be ‘furious’ about claims made in Omid Scobie’s Endgame that she did not support Meghan Markle within the royal family
![Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, went out of her way to make the Duchess of Sussex feel welcome in The Firm, a source told The Sun](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/13/15/78915725-12859635-image-a-2_1702480724960.jpg)
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, went out of her way to make the Duchess of Sussex feel welcome in The Firm, a source told The Sun
The couple, who were then the Earl and Countess of Wessex, spoke to The Telegraph in their first major interview together in more than two decades and jokingly asked, ‘Oprah who?’ and ‘what interview?’ when quizzed on whether they watched Harry and Meghan’s bombshell sit down.
‘You know, if you’re not into chat shows, there’s no reason why you should know who she is. Certainly not this this country, anyway,’ Sophie said of the US chat show host.
But Omid has claimed that ‘the comments about the world’s most successful black woman and one of the biggest faces in entertainment’ made the royal duo ‘seem stuffy or tin-eared at best, and casually bigoted at worst.’
‘Sophie’s Oprah gaffe is yet another page to add to the history of recent screw ups,’ Scobie said.
For Scobie, Sophie and Edward’s apparent ignorance could be used as evidence that the monarchy is an ‘intolerant organization steeped in bigotry and privilege’.
The author took a further dig at the couple, saying that even their trip to the Cayman Islands in February this year couldn’t propel them on to the front pages.
According to Scobie, their excursion failed to reach western press, and instead only featured in the Cayman Compass and Cayman News Service.
Scobie recalled a conversation with a ‘top Fleet Street Editor’ about Sophie and Edward who apparently claimed: ‘I’d have more luck putting my mum on the front page.’
The author summed up Sophie and Edward’s March 2022 trip to Antigua, painting a picture where they supposedly ‘smiled’ and ‘waved’ to audiences ‘demanding apologies and reparatory justice’ for Britain’s colonization of the Caribbean.