Who is Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex? | The Sun
PRINCE Edward is the youngest of late Queen Elizabeth II's children and was once third in line to the throne.
Known as the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward is expected to inherit the title of the Duke of Edinburgh from his late father Prince Phillip, but the decision now lies with Charles, the new King.
Who is Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex?
Born on March 10, 1964, Prince Edward is the last born of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
The 58-the year-old is the younger brother to King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew.
The Earl of Wessex was born at Buckingham Palace and studied at Heatherdown School and Gordonstoun before spending time in New Zealand during his gap year.
He then attended the University of Cambridge, graduating in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in History.
Prince Edward had a brief stint in the Royal Marines before working in theatre and television and later forming his own company, Ardent Productions.
Since 2002, he has taken on full-time duties as a working member of the Royal Family and holds patronages within more than 70 charities and organisations.
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Prince Edward tied the knot with Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999.
He was given the title Earl of Wessex before the wedding.
However, as King Charles takes the throne following the death of their mother Queen Elizabeth II, it is understood that Prince Edward will inherit the title of Duke of Edinburgh from their late father Prince Phillip.
Who is Prince Edward's wife Sophie?
The Countess of Wessex was born Sophie Helen Rhys Jones on January 20, 1965, in Oxford to parents Christopher Bournes Rhys Jones and Mary.
She was raised in a four-bed 17th-century farmhouse in Brenchley, Kent, and began her education at Dulwich Preparatory School, before moving on to Kent College, Pembury.
While at Kent College she became friends with Sarah Sienesi, with whom she shared a flat in Fulham and who later became her lady-in-waiting.
Sophie then trained as a secretary at West Kent College, Tonbridge.
She then began a career in public relations, working for a variety of firms, including Capital Radio as well as public relations companies The Quentin Bell Organisation and MacLaurin Communications & Media.
In 1996, she launched her public relations agency, RJH Public Relations, which she ran with her business partner, Murray Harkin, for five years.
Sophie, 57, met Prince Edward while working at Capital Radio for the first time in 1987.
At the time, the youngest son of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh was dating her friend.
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But after meeting again at a charity event in 1993, the two began a relationship soon afterwards, and their engagement was announced on January 6, 1999.
Prince Edward proposed to Sophie with a two-carat oval diamond flanked by two heart-shaped gemstones set in 18-carat white gold, and was made by the Royal jeweller Garrard & Co.
It is worth an estimated £105,000.
Prince Edward and Sophie were married on June 19, 1999, at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle – the same location where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wedded at.
How many kids does Prince Edward have?
The Earl and Countess have two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
Louise and James do not hold the title of princess and prince and are not addressed as HRH.
Lady Louise Windsor
Lady Louise, who is 18, was born prematurely at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey and was delivered by emergency C-section.
She previously attended school in Windsor before moving to an Ascot school near to her parent's home, Bagshot Park.
Louise is 15th in line to the throne, behind her younger brother James, as they were both born before the 2013 Succession to the Crown Act, which officially ended the centuries-old rule that male offspring take precedence over females.
The young royal is said to have emerged as the Queen’s favourite following a lengthy stay at the monarch’s Scottish retreat, Balmoral, over the summer of 2019.
In 2011, aged seven, Louise was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince William and Kate.
In August 2022, it was confirmed that she will attend St Andrews University, the school where her cousin Prince William met Kate in the Autumn.
James, Viscount Severn
James, Viscount Severn is the Queen's youngest grandchild.
He is 14th in succession to the throne, and will likely be taking on some more responsibility in the coming years.
James was born by caesarean section at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey. on December 17, 2007.
The BBC reported at the time that his father described his newborn son as "very cute and very cuddly".
According to reports from Tatler, James is one of the Queen’s favourite grandchildren.
James was baptised in 2008 in the Private Chapel of Windsor Castle and his godparents are Alastair Bruce of Crionaich, Duncan Bullivant, Thomas Hill, Denise Poulton and Jeanye Irwin.
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He attended Eagle House School – a prep school near Sandhurst in Berkshire.
The Wessex family was said to have been close to the late Queen and her late husband Philip.
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