Is Kate Middleton Losing The Limelight To More ‘Modern Royal,’ Sophie Rhys-Jones?

Is Kate Middleton losing the limelight to her husband’s aunt? There’s speculation that Countess of Wessex, Sophie Rhys-Jones, is gaining momentum in possibly upstaging the Duchess of Cambridge.

Sophie is married to Prince Edward, Prince William’s uncle. Several pictures of her will be seen in the February issue of Harper’s Bazaar. Photos in the issue show off her dramatic weight loss and she touches on a controversial subject about burkas, the garment that Islamic women wear. She says it proves that women don’t have to reveal lots of skin to be “beautiful and stylish.”

The U.K.’s Mail Online explains that in just a few weeks’ time, Sophie will turn 50 and she looks better now than ever. The Countess typically maintains a low profile and doesn’t care to draw much attention to herself. Suddenly, she’s making news with her thinner figure, upping her game in fashion, and speaking out on hot topics.

Does this mean Kate Middleton has a bit of competition within the British royal family?

Sophie Rhys-Jones is reportedly Queen Elizabeth’s favorite daughter-in-law and she has a stronger bond with her than Kate. Sophie and the queen ride horses together and are often seen in the same official car.

Rhys-Jones is mostly considered by Buckingham Palace to be the “model modern royal,” not Kate, according to the report.

What is mentioned in the article, however, is that the “Kate effect” is a driving force behind Sophie’s recent makeover. The two women share several designers of jewelry, clothing, and hats. The designers find instant fame when Kate wears any of their apparel or accessories; the same isn’t true when Sophie wears them.

Among the theories behind the Countess of Wessex making new changes is that she’s more aware her position with Prince Edward, as senior royals are being pushed further down the line. She and Edward are ranking lower within the royal family with the birth of Prince George and another one on the way for William and Kate.

It’s also being said that Prince Edward hasn’t gotten over being “excluded” from appearing on the royal balcony at Buckingham Palace during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2013. Prince Andrew and Princess Anne were also excluded from the appearance, which higher-ranking royals Prince Charles, Prince William, and Kate Middleton were on display for.

Is Sophie trying to bring more exposure for her and Edward? She’s wanted more recognition for her work with children’s charities, but has feared looking like a copycat of Princess Diana’s high-profile ways of bringing attention to what she did.

Now that Sophie is the “first-ever” patron for the London College of Fashion, she’ll have a more prominent status in the fashion world. It might help her to be more visible without appearing like a “copycat” to the deceased Princess of Wales. This patronage could have easily been offered to Kate, but it was Sophie who was chosen.

Two months ago, the queen asked Sophie — not one of her four children or Kate — to represent her at a funeral for the President of Zambia.

Kate Middleton and Sophie Rhys-Jones had no royal connections before they met their husbands and are both attractive women. If Sophie increases her public image through royal duties, it doesn’t necessarily mean she’s “competing” with Kate.

Would Sophie ever be a threat to the future Queen of England?

[Photo Credit: WENN via Ace of Showbiz]