Inside Prince William's big plans for 'secret weapon' Sophie Wessex when he's on throne

The Duchess of Edinburgh has rightfully climbed the ranks and has become one of the most popular working royals who backs difficult causes which previously received very little global attention.

Sophie's popularity is clear whenever members of the Royal Family step out in public and she clearly shares a close bond with the likes of King Charles, Queen Camilla and The Prince and Princess of Wales. It is this relationship and her wide recognition as a 'secret weapon' for the Firm that has led experts to say she will have a coveted role when Prince William's time on the throne comes.

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Reports that William will give his aunt a key role were provoked after a royal insider spoke to The Sunday Times and said: "They [the Waleses and the Edinburghs] get on very well." The source then added that they believe that the Prince of Wales will be "eager for his aunt and uncle to play a more prominent role in public life".

This hint has been met with widespread delight from royal experts. Speaking to OK! ahead of the Duchess' landmark 60th birthday on January 20, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said: "By any measure, Sophie has proved herself to be a major asset to the royal family, and William would be foolish to ignore the value she brings."

It's an approach that Prince William favours too. Rather like how Sophie focuses on the difficult subjects of the eradication of sexual violence in conflict areas, female genital mutilation and gender equality, William also takes a realistic approach to his work by not shying away from challenging subjects like mental health and male suicide rates.

Praising Sophie further, Jennie added: "She is dignified and elegant, and yet still the same Sophie she was when she met Edward: unpretentious, generous and with a natural charm.

"She has worked below the radar for many years, neither expecting nor receiving the publicity she deserves. Recently though, with the slimmed down royal family, the public have come to recognise how important the Duchess is to the work of the monarchy."

One the reasons behind Sophie's impressive rise is the role she has assumed as a talented diplomat who is frequently sent abroad to carry out politically sensitive and high-profile trips to war-torn or otherwise troubled areas of the world.

The tours she has carried out have included visits to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Baghdad, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Sudan and, more recently, Ukraine.

"The Government have deployed her to use the monarchy's soft power in a number of very delicate situations," Jennie adds. "She is always well prepared and confident to take on more responsibilities. And she has taken on some highly sensitive issues in some of the most dangerous parts of the world.

"At just sixty, she is a relatively young member of the senior royals…so I am sure there will be a major role for her in the future, and King William will be leaning heavily on both Sophie and Edward to support the monarchy in all it does in the future."

In recent years, The Duchess of Edinburgh has proved herself as an engaging and empathetic senior member of the Royal Family - with many referring to her as King Charles' 'secret weapon'.

Away from the spotlight, she and Prince Edward live at Bagshot Park in Surrey with their two children, Lady Louise Windsor, 21, and James, Earl of Wessex, 17, when they are not away at university and school.

She and Edward marked their 25th wedding anniversary last year, and their love for one another was plain to see as Sophie paid tribute to him in a heartfelt speech in which she called him "the best of fathers, the most loving of husbands and still is my best friend.”