Sophie,

Countess of Wessex

Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones was born on January 20th 1965 to Christopher and Mary Rhys-Jones in Oxford. Sophie was the only child born from the Rhys-Jones, but had an elder half brother from her mother. When Sophie was still a young girl, the Rhys-Jones moved from Wales to Kent. She had started her career in Public Relations going from working for films, to working for four years at Capital Radio, and also at a public relations company called The Quentin Bell Organisation and MacLaurin Communications & Media. Miss Rhys-Jones also worked in Switzerland as a ski representative and went to work and travel in Australia for a year. In 1996, Sophie started her own public relations agency, RJH Public Relations.

In 1993, Sophie met Prince Edward of the United Kingdom, the third son and fourth child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The couple expressed their wishes to get married, and announced their engagement on January 6th 1999.

On June 19th 1999 Sophie and Edward married at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. On the day of the wedding, Edward and Sophie became the Earl and Countess of Wessex. By marriage, Sophie also took Edward's full title as Her Royal Highness Princess Edward Antony Richard Louis, Viscountess Severn, Countess of Wessex. The Queen also announced that when she and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh both pass away, Edward would be the heir to the Dukedom of Edinburgh, and Sophie would become Duchess of Edinburgh. Until then, they were given the Earldom of Wessex. Edward and Sophie's marriage has been the only one of Queen Elizabeth's children to survive.

In late 2001, The Countess of Wessex was taken to the hospital after not feeling well, where it was discovered that she had an ectopic pregnancy. Two years later, Sophie and Edward gave birth to their first child, The Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor on November 8th 2003. On December 17th 2007, Sophie had another child, James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor, Viscount Severn. The Earl and Countess of Wessex made it clear that they did not want their children to have the style of Royal Highness or have the title Prince and Princess.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex carry out many Royal Duties. Currently, they are celebrating The Queens Diamond Jubilee with the rest of the royal family.

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