Duchess Sophie, who is celebrating her 59th birthday today, could have had a shot at becoming Queen, but not in the United Kingdom.

As the wife of Prince Edward, the youngest son of the late Queen, Sophie was well aware that the chances of her ascending to the throne were slim.

However, an unexpected turn of events once brought her closer to this possibility.

In the 1990s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent creation of new countries in Eastern Europe, Prince Edward received a peculiar request.

Estonia, one of the newly formed nations, reached out to him with an offer to become their King.

The leader of the Independent Royalist Party of Estonia, which had gained eight seats in Parliament at the time, believed Edward would be the perfect fit for the role.

This admiration for the prince was evident, and Buckingham Palace even acknowledged the request.

The Sunday Telegraph reported that Buckingham Palace regarded the proposal as a charming idea but highly unlikely to materialize.

Despite the unlikelihood of Edward accepting the offer, it was an intriguing glimpse into what could have been.

Fast forward to March 2023, on Edward’s 59th birthday, and news broke that both he and Sophie would receive new titles.

They were bestowed with the prestigious titles of Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, replacing their former titles of Earl and Countess of Wessex.

Their son James, at the age of 16, now holds the title of Earl of Wessex.

These titles were granted to the couple by King Charles as a promise made to them by the late Queen.

Since receiving these honors, both Edward and Sophie have witnessed a surge in popularity.

In particular, Sophie has been actively engaging in various engagements and recently paid a visit to Battersea.

On January 16, after her festive break, Sophie resumed her work by visiting the Catherine Low Settlement (KLS), a London-based charity that supports over 500 vulnerable individuals each week, including the elderly, young people, and refugees.

The KLS, which celebrated its 100th anniversary, has a long-standing connection with the royal family, having been inaugurated by the Queen Mother in 1924.

During her visit, Sophie energetically participated in an elders’ chair dance class, demonstrating her enthusiasm and dedication to the cause.

While Duchess Sophie’s potential path to becoming Queen may have been an intriguing possibility, it remains a mere footnote in history.