AS THEY CELEBRATE THEIR 20 TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF WESSEX HOW A QUIET DEVOTION TO DUTY WON THE NATION’S HEART
Twenty years ago this week, Sophie Rhys Jones walked down the aisle at St George’s Chapel to marry Prince Edward, radiating happiness as she later rode with her husband through Windsor in an open-top carriage, ready to begin her new life as a member of the royal family.
Since then, the Countess of Wessex has established herself as one of the most popular and admired members of “The Firm”. Her understated elegance, quiet sense of duty and devotion to her children has not only endeared her to the public but has marked her out as a firm favorite of the Queen.
Meanwhile, her marriage to the Earl – the only one of the Queen’s children not to have divorced – remains rock solid after 26 years as a couple, with observers describing their relationship as close and loving.
Buckingham Palace tells hello! that the couple plan to celebrate their wedding anniversary privately on Wednesday 19 June.
“Sophie is absolutely charming and always has been,” says Ingrid Seward, the editor of Majesty magazine, who has met the Countess many times. “She’s very natural and low key and gets on with her job without making a fuss.
“Key to her popularity is that she’s never got grand about her position and she isn’t flashy or extravagant. She also appears to be a loving mum and a great wife.
“She has never tried to upstage Edward and she knows exactly when to take a back seat,” she adds. “They have a kind of mature relationship and he has his job and she has hers, so they probably spend more time apart than they would like. But they seem to have a very happy marriage.”
Shutterstock royal photographer Tim Rooke, who has been covering Sophie’s overseas tours for 20 years, agrees.
Denne historien er fra June 24, 2019-utgaven av HELLO! Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra June 24, 2019-utgaven av HELLO! Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
THROWING IT BACK TO THE 1990S 'VOGUE' ERA OF THE SUPERMODEL
KATE MOSS LEADS FAMOUS FACES REFLECTING ON FASHION HEYDAY
FORMER 'MADE IN CHELSEA' STAR FRAN NEWMAN-YOUNG
DAZZLES IN BESPOKE WEDDING GOWN AS SHE TIES THE KNOT IN STYLE IN MAJORCA
LENDING SUPPORT TO CHILDREN'S HOSPICE PRINCESSES BEATRICE AND EUGENIE
BRING LIGHT INTO LITTLE ONES' LIVES AS THEY PLANT A SYMBOL OF HOPE
ON BUOYANT FORM AFTER HIS WIFE'S GOOD NEWS THE PRINCE OF WALES
DISHES OUT THE HUGS ON VISIT FROM THE HEART
WITH AN INCREDIBLE GLIMPSE INTO FAMILY LIFE THE PRINCESS OF WALES
SHARES MESSAGE OF HOPE AS SHE LOOKS TO THE FUTURE AND BALANCING HER ROLE
IN HIGH SPIRITS AT THE BRAEMAR HIGHLAND GAMES THE KING AND QUEEN
ENJOY LAUGHS APLENTY AT A FAVOURITE EVENT BEFORE MONARCH QUIETLY MARKS TWO YEARS ON THE THRONE
AS HOLLY WILLOUGHBY RETURNS NATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS
STARS DAZZLE ON NIGHT OF GLAMOUR AND GONGS
CREATING A NEW SISTER ACT ELIZABETH OLSEN
ON CO-STARRING WITH NATASHA LYONNE AND CARRIE COON
MAKING HISTORY AT STARSTUDDED EVENT IN NEW YORK TAYLOR SWIFT
SMASHES IT WITH SEVEN OF THE BEST AT THE V.M.As
KIM KARDASHIAN AND DAKOTA JOHNSONS
FASHION AND COMPASSION AT A-LIST CHARITY EVENT