Duchess Sophie is continuing to take on more responsibility in the royal family. After being announced the new official royal patron of Plan International UK, a global children’s charity, Sophie has been appointed another new role that once belonged to her late mother-in-law Queen Elizabeth. 

On Thursday, it was revealed that the Duchess of Edinburg was being bestowed with one of the royal family’s most historic charity roles: royal patron of Mothers’ Union, an organization that “brings hope and practical support to millions of people every year through parenting, literacy and community development programmes,” according to the Royal Family’s website. 

The position is steeped in history, as it first belonged to Queen Victoria, who supported the women’s charity in the late 1800s, and Queen Elizabeth’s own mom, Queen Mother.  

Of Sophie’s patronage, Kathleen Snow, worldwide president of Mothers’ Union, said in a statement: “The Duchess will bring strength and inspiration for the work we all do. We are especially grateful for Her Royal Highness’s commitment to championing the most marginalized, particularly those who are impacted by violence and abuse in conflict.”

She continued, “As a woman-led movement, we also greatly welcome the Duchess’s commitment to promoting the development of women into leadership.”

Sophie’s appointment is particularly touching given her and Queen Elizabeth’s close bond. “With the exception of her daughter Anne, the Queen was closer to Sophie than any of the other royal women,” Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty, told OK! in January. “It really was a genuine closeness, and Elizabeth was always Sophie’s biggest confidante.”

Seward added that Queen Elizabeth though Sophie was “very down to earth, because she refused to have expensive security and things like that, and she loved her lack of airs and graces. I think she saw Sophie as a bit of a surrogate daughter, too.”