The Duchess of Edinburgh – A business woman turned royal




sophie wessex King Faisal Necklace
Abaca Press / Alamy Stock Photo

Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones was born on 20 January 1965 as the daughter of Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones and Mary O’Sullivan. She has an elder brother named David, who was born in 1963.

Her first steps into education took place at Dulwich Preparatory School. She then moved on to Kent College before entering training as a secretary at West Kent College in Tonbridge. She started working in public relations for several firms and launched her public relations agency, RJH Public Relations, in 1996.

She first met her future husband, Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1987 when he was dating a friend of hers. They met again in 1993 and reportedly started dating soon afterwards. Edward proposed to her while they were on vacation in December 1998, and the engagement was announced on 6 January 1999. Asked how she felt about joining the royal family, she said, “I am fully aware of the responsibilities, and I feel I am ready for it. I have had a few years to get used to it.”1 Sophie’s engagement ring was made by Garrard & Co.

Edward and Sophie were married on 19 June 1999 at St George’s Chapel. Edward was created Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn on the day of the wedding and so Sophie emerged from St George’s Chapel as Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex.2 Sophie wore a “long, fitted, panelled dress-coat with long sleeves and a train in ivory silk.”3 The newlyweds settled at Bagshot Park.

Sophie’s first pregnancy turned out to be an ectopic pregnancy, which had to be removed. On 8 November 2003, following an emergency caesarean section, Sophie gave birth prematurely to a daughter named Louise. While Louise was entitled to be called Princess Louise, her parents agreed on the less formal Lady Louise. On 17 December 2007, Sophie gave birth to a son named James, who went by his father’s subsidiary title, Viscount Severn.

Edward and Sophie initially carried on with their own business ventures after their wedding, but they decided to end these in 2002. Sophie had been the victim of a newspaper sting, which had drawn much criticism concerning her dual role as a royal and a businesswoman. She “was widely attacked for allegedly using her royal status to win lucrative contracts”.4

Edward and Sophie have carried out many engagements on behalf of the late Queen Elizabeth II and now King Charles III. In 2019, Edward was additionally created Earl of Forfar. On 10 March 2023, Edward was created Duke of Edinburgh, although this is not a hereditary peerage but rather a life peerage. This means that Sophie is now known as Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh. Their son James now carries the Earl of Wessex title by courtesy.

  1. The New York Times
  2. As the wife of a prince, she has the rank and status of a Princess.
  3. The New York Times
  4. BBC News






About Moniek Bloks 2909 Articles
My name is Moniek and I am from the Netherlands. I began this website in 2013 because I wanted to share these women's amazing stories.

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