Who is Sophie Winkelman? The actress who captured the heart of Lord Frederick Windsor
If strict presenter Claudia Winkleman has become a queen of Saturday night television, it is her half-sister Sophie who has become something close to royalty herself.
The two share a father in Barry Winkleman publishing house. And although the girls grew apart, they both proved fond of performing, with Sophie becoming a film actress and screenwriter.
Then, in 2009, she married Lord Frederick Windsor, the son of Prince Michael of Kent and his wife Marie-Christine, known as Princess Michael.
Sophie Lara Winkleman, who turns 43 today, was born in Primrose Hill, London, on August 5, 1980. Her mother was writer Cindy Black.
She once explained that she and the Strictly host had “very separate lives” as children because Claudia, who is nine years her senior, lived with her mother, former newspaper editor Eve Pollard.
Sophie Lara Winkleman was born on August 5, 1980 in Primrose Hill, London, to Barry Winkleman and Cindy Black.
Lady Gabriella Windsor, Lord Frederick Windsor, Sophie Winkleman, Princess Michael of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent at the Trooping the Color in June 2015
Sophie, who now lives in Chelsea, married Lord Freddie at Hampton Court Palace in September 2009, after meeting him on a night out in Soho
Sophie was educated at the City of London School for Girls before completing an English degree at Cambridge University.
During her time there she joined the Cambridge Footlights comedy troupe which over time has starred such stars as Alan Bennett, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry and David Mitchell.
Sophie met Lord Frederick Windsor on a night out in Soho and married him in September 2009 at Hampton Court Palace.
The guests included senior members of the royal family and the bride’s half-sister, Claudia.
The actress wore a silk dress with a sweetheart neckline created by Anna Bystrova of Roza Couture, favorite designer of her new mother-in-law, Princess Michael of Kent.
The dress featured hand-decorated sequins, beads and crystals and a ten-foot train.
Lady Sophie and Lord Freddie lived in Los Angeles for seven years – having moved there the day after their wedding to allow Sophie to continue her acting.
Her roles include Ashton Kutcher’s character Walden’s girlfriend Zoe in Two and a Half Man. She also wrote screenplays for Salma Hayek and Penélope Cruz. Lord Frederick continued to work for JP Morgan.
Sophie and Lord Freddy with their two daughters, Isabella Windsor and Maud Windsor, pictured at Lady Gabriella Windsor’s wedding in May 2019
Mum-of-two Sophie says everyone has taken care of her, in particular the Queen and Prince Charles, who have been ‘amazing’, and Prince William, who has left, whom she described as ‘heavenly’. Pictured during Trooping the Color in 2014
Sophie played the role of Zoe, girlfriend of Walden, Ashton Kutcher’s character, in the American sitcom Two and a Half Men
The actress, 40, is best known in the UK for playing Big Suze in Peep Show alongside David Mitchell and Robert Webb
Other appearances include roles in Peep Show, Death in Paradise, Sanditon and This is Going to Hurt.
While living in the United States, the couple welcomed their first child, daughter Maud Elizabeth Daphne Marina, who was born in August 2013 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
This was actually Sophie’s second stint in LA.
She had moved there after graduating from college, but she left when she thought executives wanted to make her a “skinny little star.”
They welcomed their second daughter, Isabella Alexandra May Windsor, back to the UK. She was born at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London.
Sophie Winkleman attends the Masterpiece Midsummer Party in aid of Clic Sargent at The Royal Hospital Chelsea on 3rd July 2012
Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor with Princess Michael of Kent at the late Queen Elizabeth’s funeral at Westminster Hall in September 2022
Maud and Isabella were among the five bridesmaids for her sister-in-law Lady Gabriella Windsor’s wedding to Thomas Kingston in 2019.
They also attended the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in October 2018.
She previously described her experience moving into the royal family, telling The Times in 2020: ‘I have been incredibly welcomed with open arms by everyone.
“I have not had any negative experience. The Queen was great, Prince Charles was great, Prince William was heaven.
“If I wanted to play a role, they would never tell me anything. Everyone took care of me.’
Sophie explained that her royal in-laws did everything they could to support her after she was injured in a road accident in November 2017.
Lord Frederick Windsor and Sophie Winkleman attend the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on June 3, 2022
The actress has made quite an impression on royalty and is good friends with many in the family, including Zara Tindall
She was a backseat passenger in a chauffeur-driven car when another vehicle hit her car after she swerved to avoid a deer.
The car she was traveling in was dramatically flung into the air before crashing, causing life-threatening injuries.
Stuck upside down in the back of the car, Sophie admitted that she assumed she was a ‘goner’ and began to think about her husband’s life without her.
Medici managed to cut her free, but she had broken her foot and two bones in her back; it was three days before she was told she would not remain paralyzed.
Sophie said the rehabilitation period, which lasted more than a year, was “miserable” and prevented her from picking up her daughters.
The royals rallied, with Prince William asking a colleague from the air ambulance to “take good care of her.” Sophie, the then Duchess of Wessex, visited her hospital bed and Prince Charles provided her family with two meals a day prepared by his chef at Clarence House.
She said, “I’ve heard from pretty much every member of Freddie’s family, I was spoiled to the bone by them.”
Lady Sophie Winkleman and Queen Camilla smile on day five of Royal Ascot
The 42-year-old happily reunited with King Charles and Queen Camilla during day five of Royal Ascot
In June 2020, Lady Frederick announced she was the new Royal Patron of the Children’s Surgery Foundation.
The following month it was revealed that she would be School-Home Support’s newest (and first female) patron, and in June 2022 presented the BBC Radio 4 Appeal on her behalf.
Sophie was recently spotted at Ascot, met King Charles and seemed to be enjoying their time together at the Royal Box.