Isabella Windsor, the nine-year-old daughter of Sophie Winkleman and Lord Frederick Windsor, joined her mother this week in a hands-on campaign to support those experiencing homelessness in London.
Isabella is 56th-in-line to the throne, and is the granddaughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.
The mother-and-daughter pair spent the day selling The Big Issue at Somerset House, speaking with vendors and highlighting the challenges faced by those living on the streets. Sophie, 45, reflected on the human cost of homelessness and the role of the magazine in offering both employment and community support.
Speaking to HELLO, she said: “No one should have to endure that pain and indignity – and The Big Issue is a family and a community for people who’ve fallen on seriously hard times.”
During the visit, Sophie and Isabella worked alongside Kelvin, a long-standing vendor. “No one bought from me this time,” Sophie admitted. “I need to channel Kelvin’s zen tolerance; apparently I looked instantly furious when people walked past me. Not the way to do it. A lovely lady bought one from Isabella, thank goodness. That was a relief.”
Sophie, who has served as an ambassador for the magazine since 2020, stressed the importance of supporting vendors, particularly during the festive season. “It’s important to buy The Big Issue at Christmas, because your local vendor is someone who has hauled themselves up from a low place and should be honoured and treasured,” she said.
The outing comes amid Sophie’s broader reflections on life in the Royal Family, into which she married through her husband Lord Frederick Windsor. She recently told The Times that the unasked-for attention and scrutiny faced by members of the Firm is intense, describing it as “a form of torture” for those thrust into the spotlight from birth.
