Sophie Densham whispering in Camilla’s ear

September 14, 2022. Britons are glued to the news channels to keep up with the funeral procession that carries the coffin of Elizabeth II, who died six days ago, from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall at Balmoral. It is there that he will reveal himself before his funeral to let the English people think.

On that day, some people were surprised. Who is this woman with the blonde bob and piercing blue eyes who accompanies Camila in the car? Very quickly, the media got the answer. This is Sophie Densham, personal assistant to the new Queen of England. A trusted figure that Charles III’s wife has relied on for over ten years.

Promotion 2021

Very informed Daily Mail: presents Sophie Densham’s autobiography. We then learn that she began her career as a secretary at the Memorial Gates Trust, a charity whose aim is to protect the memory of people from the Indian subcontinent, Africa and the Caribbean who served in both world wars. Before serving in the royal family, where he was appointed in 2008 to the private office of the then Duchess of Cornwall. In 2015, Sophie Bensham was awarded the Royal Victorian Order (an honorary title that recognizes distinguished or personal services to the sovereign or the royal family) and was promoted the same year. She was appointed assistant private secretary to Camilla Parker Bowles. In 2021, the final consecration takes place, he becomes his main assistant.

Since then, the British man has made himself indispensable to Camilla, who became queen after her husband’s ascension to the throne. Proof: During the reign of Charles III, Sophie Densham was one of the rare Clarence House employees who remained on the royal couple’s team of advisers.

Less well paid than his colleague

When it comes to her private life, Sophie Bensham knows how to be discreet. The one whispering in Camila’s ear would be a mother and she would be forty, we just learned in the columns. Times .

In July, the same daily also revealed a huge pay gap between Charles III’s right-hand man, Sir Clive Alderton, and Sophie Densham. And this, even though both assistants are responsible for the same missions (monitoring the agenda of Charles and Camilla, accompanying them on foreign tours, advising them, contacting other members of the royal family…). While Sir Clive Alderton would receive between £205,000 and £210,000 a year (or €237,000 to €242,000), Camilla’s personal assistant is paid between £90,000 and £95,000 a year (around €00,000).

The report cited Times It also reveals that Charles’s private secretary is “provided with accommodation for the better performance of his duties, an undisclosed rent being deducted from his salary “at a rate agreed upon with His Majesty’s Treasury”. Apparently, Sir Clive Alderton lives at Marlborough House, next door to Clarence House, Charles and Camilla’s London residence, not far from his office at Buckingham Palace. Sexist unequal treatment. The Chamber denies this. Proof: he has made progress in terms of equality and equal pay. And what’s more, the average pay gap between men and women in royal staff is 5.71% in 2023 (compared to 8.57% in 2022). For comparison, let’s note that this gap reaches 14.9% at the national level.

Sexist or not, this unequal treatment between the two private secretaries caused outrage in London anyway. We do not hide our disappointment in court. “I’m really shocked by this disparity and surprised by Sophie’s salary,” lamented a senior figure at Roya Nikkhah, who is a journalist. Times. This is a real kick in the anthill. [Sophie] is a real clerk, and her job is huge and very demanding.” As Charles and Camilla arrive in France this Wednesday, we imagine Sophie Densham won’t deviate from the norm and will stand by his side. as always…