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Marie Claire
Marie Claire
Lifestyle
Kristin Contino

Duchess Sophie Pulls a Princess Margaret With Unexpected Showbiz Role

Duchess Sophie smiling in a blue outfit.

Queen Elizabeth once stormed out on her sister after she shushed her during an episode of the iconic BBC Radio drama "The Archers," and Princess Margaret was such a fan of the show that she once played herself in a 1984 guest role. Four decades later, Duchess Sophie is slipping into Margaret's shoes for her own starring moment on the radio soap opera—and wowing fans with her acting skills.

"🚨 The Archers spoiler alert! 🚨 Last night Ambridge welcomed a very special visitor to The Borchester Show, no other than Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh," a Reel shared by BBC Radio 4 and the Royal Family read. "Take a look at The Duchess in rehearsal with the cast as she makes her Archers debut."

In the clip, Duchess Sophie wears a blue patterned Beulah London dress and a pair of her beloved Penelope Chilvers espadrilles as she stands in front of a microphone at the broadcaster's Birmingham studios, reading off her lines with "The Archers" actress Susie Riddell.

Duchess Sophie on The Archers

A photo posted by on

Princess Margaret records an episode of the BBC's "Desert Island Discs" in 1981. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Along with Princess Margaret, Sophie followed in husband Prince Edward's acting footsteps, and fans couldn't get over how natural she appeared during the rehearsal.

"She's good 😊 Must have got tips from Edward after his youthful thespian days! ❤️" one Instagram user commented on the Reel. Another wrote, "Rehearsal? This sounds flawless! The duchess is a natural."

The agricultural soap opera has been running since 1950, and while Duchess Sophie traveled to Birmingham to record her "Archers" episode, Princess Margaret went very on-brand with her '80s guest role, having a recording studio set up at Kensington Palace.

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