Why was Peep Show star Sophie Winkleman at the Queen’s funeral? ‘Big Suze’ royal family connection explained
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Sophie Winkleman has often been spotted at royal events, and today Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral is no different.
Fans of Channel 4’s Peep Show were left stunned, when they spotted the actress alongside senior members of the Royal Family on the final day of national mourning.
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Hide AdThe 42-year-old, who is most famous for playing Jeremy’s on-off love interest Big Suze, has been a common face at Royal events since 2009, including Jubilee services, Royal weddings and the Queen’s birthday celebrations.
This makes sense as her husband is Lord Frederick Windsor, the son of one of Queen Elizabeth II’s paternal cousins.
Who is Sophie Winkleman?
Sophie played “attractive but naive” Big Suze in Channel 4’s long running sitcom Peep Show.
Her character had an on-off relationship with main character Jeremy (played by Robert Webb) from series three (2005) to series seven (2010).
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Hide AdHer television credits also include Joely in White Teeth, Fiona in The Trial of Tony Blair, Princess Eleanor in The Palace, Ghislaine in Robin Hood, Dorothy Gibson in Titanic and Ann Hamilton in Death in Paradise.
She’ left a mark in America, after playing main character Charlotte Payne in NBC’s 100 Questions and Zoey, the recurring girlfriend of Walden Schmidt (played by Ashton Kutcher), in Two and a Half Men.
In June 2020, it was announced that she was the new Royal Patron of the Children’s Surgery Foundation.
A month later, it was announced that she would be the first female patron of School-Home Support and in June this year she presented the BBC Radio 4 Appeal on its behalf.
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Hide AdHer half-sister is TV presenter Claudia Winklmen - most famed for presenting Strictly Come Dancing.
Where does Sophie Winkleman fit in the Royal Family tree?
Queen Elizabeth’s father, former King George VI, had five siblings; Edward, Mary, Henry, George and John.
George, Duke of Kent had three children, before he died in 1942 - Edward, Alexandra and Michael - all of whom are the Queen’s first cousins.
Micheal then went on to give the Queen two second cousins, with his children Lady Gabriella Windsor and Lord Frederick Windsor.
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Hide AdFrederick Windsor married Sophie Winkleman in September 2009 at Hampton Court Palace, making the British actress a second cousin to Queen Elizabeth II.
Subsequently, she gained the title of Lady Frederick Windsor but uses her own name in her professional life.
Frederick Windsor, who works as a financial analyst, is currently 52nd in the line of succession to the British throne.
The pair have two daughters together, Maud and Isabella, born in 2013 and 2016 respectively.
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