While Claudia Winkleman reigns supreme on Strictly Come Dancing and The Traitors, her lesser-known family connection to the British Royal Family reveals a starkly different world of duty and intense public scrutiny.
A Royal Marriage and Candid Confessions
The Strictly host, 53, has a younger half-sister, Sophie Winkleman, 45, an actress who married Lord Frederick Windsor in 2009. He is the son of Prince Michael of Kent and Princess Michael of Kent. Despite being welcomed into the fold, Sophie has offered a remarkably frank assessment of royal life. In a November interview with The Times, she described existence as a working royal as 'total hell' and a 'form of torture'.
'The more I get to know the Royal Family, the more I get that their lives are total hell and that level of unasked-for fame is a form of torture,' Sophie stated. She emphasised that members are born into a 'blinding spotlight', never having sought fame through shows like Pop Idol.
Separate Lives, Shared Spotlight
The sisters share a father, publisher Barry Winkleman, but grew up apart. Claudia, from Barry's first marriage to journalist Eve Pollard, lived with her mother. Sophie, born on August 5, 1980, is from Barry's marriage to author Cindy Black. Despite this, both pursued performance careers.
Sophie was educated at the City of London School for Girls and read English at the University of Cambridge, where she joined the famed Cambridge Footlights. Her acting career includes the role of Big Suze in Peep Show and a stint in the US sitcom Two and a Half Men.
From Soho to Hampton Court Palace
Sophie met Lord Frederick Windsor on a night out in Soho. Their wedding in September 2009 at Hampton Court Palace was attended by senior royals and Claudia. The bride wore a silk gown by Anna Bystrova from Roza Couture.
The couple moved to Los Angeles the day after their wedding, where Sophie continued acting and scriptwriting. They returned to the UK after seven years. They have two daughters: Maud, born in Los Angeles in August 2013, and Isabella, born in London. Both girls have served as bridesmaids at royal weddings.
Despite her candid criticism of the pressures, Sophie has previously expressed gratitude for her welcome into the family, telling The Times in 2020 that Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III, and Prince William had all been 'wonderful' to her.
Meanwhile, Claudia's own link to the monarchy was formally recognised last month when she was made an MBE by King Charles III at Windsor Castle for her services to broadcasting.
