The Duchess of Edinburgh is believed to be one of King Charles' "secret weapons" with a more prominent role set to be lined up for her.
Sophie has been given important and impactful visits in recent years on behalf of the monarchy, but they have been gone under the radar due to publicity surrounding more high-profile members of the royal family.
It is thought that she was particularly close to the late Queen Elizabeth II since joining the family in 1999 following her marriage to Prince Edward.
And it is believed that her influence has grown over the years and has seen her make historic trips, including a four-day secret visit to Iraq last month.
Daily Mail's royal correspondent Richard Eden wrote in his Palace Confidential newsletter about the little coverage that she gained in her recent landmark visits.
He wrote: "It was an important visit, but attracted very little media coverage, partly because the Government didn't want to publicise it until after it had happened, for security reasons.
"When Sophie became the first royal to visit South Sudan in 2020 and the first to the Democratic Republic of the Congo last year, her trips received similarly little attention."
The Duchess of Edinburgh made the trip to Iraq to raise awareness of one of her long-standing causes.
Sophie spent two days in the capital Baghdad where she continued her work championing the survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
While there, she heard about the challenges facing Iraqi women and girls, and the ongoing work to protect and promote their rights, Buckingham Palace announced.
The previously unannounced trip, which was kept secret for security reasons, was made at the request of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, in support of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPS), the Palace said.
The Foreign Office advises against all travel to the majority of provinces in Iraq, amid the threat of violent protests in and around the International Zone in Baghdad.
Sophie visited a high school for girls and spoke to students and teachers about education for young women in the country and their hopes for the future.
She also visited a family planning centre to hear about work being carried out to support the reproductive health and well-being of Iraqi women and met female business leaders to discuss the importance of women’s economic empowerment.
She delivered a message of greeting from the King to the Iraqi president, Abdul Latif Rashid, and the First Lady after meeting them in Baghdad.
Sophie became one of few royals to have visited Iraq, with King Charles, as the Prince of Wales, travelling to the country in 2004 when he visited military personnel in Basra during the Iraq War.
In 2006, Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, made a surprise trip to see British troops in Basra when he was 85.
