The Royal Family were left devastated by the Queen's death on September 8th which sparked a global outpouring of grief. Now with Britain under the reign of King Charles III the royals face a period of transition. Alongside him is the Queen Consort Camilla, who has sparked a mixed public reaction ever since her arrival on the public scene.

It was a fact admitted by Sophie before the pair were to become sister-in-laws.

As full-time working royals, the Earl and Countess of Wessex are expected to play important roles in Charles's new look family.

Initially, the couple did not want to forge careers in the Royal Family and instead pursued other ventures - Edward started his own production company, while Sophie had her own PR firm - but a series of missteps meant their careers came to an end.

Perhaps one of the most notable PR blunders was the 'Sophie Tapes', which happened just two years after her Royal Wedding. 

In 2001, while running her public relations firm, Sophie reportedly met with Mazher Mahmood, a News of the World reporter pretending to be a sheikh.

During one encounter, guised as a business meeting, Sophie made some eyebrow-raising remarks about British politicians and members of the Royal Family, including a remark doubting the public's desire for a Queen Camilla.

Angela Levin, royal expert and author of the upcoming book 'Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall: A Royal Survivor', claimed that Sophie told Mahmood that "a lot of people" did not want Camilla to be Queen.

Ms Levin told the 2020 Channel 5 documentary, 'Edward & Sophie: The Reluctant Royals': "She [Sophie] was asked about Charles and Camilla, and she said a lot of people didn't want Camilla to be Queen. 

"But when the Queen Mother died, he [Charles] would certainly marry her [Camilla]."

Charles and Camilla married in 2005, three years after the death of the Queen Mother in March 2002.

At the time, it was decided that Camilla would be known as Princess Consort rather than Queen Consort out of respect for Charles' first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales.

However, earlier this year the Queen declared that it was her "sincere wish" for the Duchess of Cornwall to be named Queen Consort once the Prince of Wales ascends the throne. 

It has been over 20 years since the 'Sophie Tapes' were recorded, and public opinion of Camilla in that time has significantly changed.

She is no longer "that wicked woman", and is instead a well-respected member of the Royal Family.

Once the scandal hit the tabloids, Sophie stepped down from her position, releasing a statement about the proceedings.

It read: "I am deeply distressed by the carrying out of an entrapment operation on me and my business but I also much regret my own misjudgment in succumbing to that subterfuge.

"This has been a difficult time for me. I take very seriously the issues raised and, naturally, regret any embarrassment above all to the Queen." 

Roya Nikkhah, royal editor at The Sunday Times, told the documentary that Sophie learned from the "painful lesson".

She said: "I think it was a very painful lesson for her to learn, but the fact that she was able to be rehabilitated after that incident shows just how highly valued she was, and still is, in the Royal Family."

In 2002, Edward left Ardent Productions - the company he had founded in 1993 - and he and Sophie began life as full-time working royals.

They have become integral members of the Royal Family, and were known to be particularly close to the Queen. 

The Earl and Countess live in Bagshot Park, which is just 11 miles away from Windsor Castle - which was the monarch's primary residence.

They were known to visit the Queen regularly, and their children - Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and James, Viscount Severn, 14 - weare understood to have close relationships with their grandmother.