Sophie, Countess of Wessex

Sophie
Countess of Wessex (more)
The Countess in 2018
Born Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones
(1965-01-20) 20 January 1965
Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, England
Spouse
Issue
House Windsor (by marriage)
Father Christopher Rhys-Jones
Mother Mary O'Sullivan

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, GCVO (born Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones; 20 January 1965), is the wife of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Married in 1999, she worked in public relations until 2002 and now is a full-time working member of the British royal family who splits her time between her work in support of the Queen and a large number of her own charities and organisations. The Earl and Countess have two children: James, Viscount Severn, and Lady Louise Windsor, who are respectively eleventh and twelfth in line to the British throne.

Early life

Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones was born at Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, on 20 January 1965, the second child and only daughter of Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones (born 1931), a retired tyre salesman and past president of the Old Brutonian's Association, his alma mater.[1] Her mother was Mary (née O'Sullivan; 1934–2005), a charity worker and secretary.[2][3] Sophie has an elder brother, David, and was named after her father's sister, Helen, who died in a riding accident in 1960. Her godfather, actor Thane Bettany, was her father's stepbrother;[4] both men spent their early life in Sarawak, North Borneo, then a British Protectorate ruled by the White Rajahs.[5]

Sophie was raised in a four-bedroom 17th-century farmhouse in Brenchley, Kent. She began her education at Dulwich Preparatory School, before moving on to Kent College, Pembury, where she was friends with Sarah Sienesi, with whom she subsequently shared a flat in Fulham and who later became her lady-in-waiting. Sophie then trained as a secretary at West Kent College, Tonbridge.[6]

She began a career in public relations, working for a variety of firms, including four years at Capital Radio,[7] where she was assigned to the press and promotions department, as well as public relations companies The Quentin Bell Organisation and MacLaurin Communications & Media.[8] She also worked as a ski representative in Switzerland and spent a year travelling and working in Australia. In 1996, Rhys-Jones launched her public relations agency, RJH Public Relations, which she ran with her business partner, Murray Harkin, for five years.[8][9]

Marriage

While working at Capital Radio, Sophie met Prince Edward, the youngest son of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, for the first time in 1987 when he was dating her friend.[10] She met Prince Edward again at a charity event in 1993, and the two began their relationship soon afterwards.[11] Their engagement was announced on 6 January 1999.[12] Edward proposed to Sophie with an engagement ring featuring a two-carat oval diamond flanked by two heart-shaped gemstones set in 18-carat white gold. The ring was made by Asprey and Garrard (now Garrard & Co) and is worth an estimated £105,000.[13] Sophie, who was reportedly close to the Queen from the beginning of her relationship with Edward, was allowed to use the royal apartments at Buckingham Palace prior to her engagement.[14] The wedding took place on 19 June of the same year at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, a break from the weddings of Edward's older siblings, which were large, formal events at Westminster Abbey or St Paul's Cathedral.[15] On the day of their marriage, Prince Edward was created a hereditary peer as Earl of Wessex with the subsidiary title of Viscount Severn (derived from the Welsh roots of the Countess's family).[16] It is understood that he will be elevated as Duke of Edinburgh when that title reverts to the Crown.[16] The couple spent their honeymoon at Balmoral Castle.[15] Following their union, the Earl and Countess moved to Bagshot Park, their home in Surrey.[17] While their private residence is Bagshot Park, their office and official London residence is based at Buckingham Palace.[18] Due to renovations at Buckingham Palace in 2018, the couple temporarily moved their offices to St James's Palace.[19]

The Earl and Countess of Wessex at Trooping the Colour in June 2013

The Earl and Countess have two children: Lady Louise Windsor (born 8 November 2003) and James, Viscount Severn (born 17 December 2007).

In December 2001, the Countess was taken to the King Edward VII Hospital after feeling unwell. It was discovered that she was suffering from an ectopic pregnancy and the foetus had to be removed.[20] Two years later, on 8 November 2003, she prematurely gave birth to her daughter, Louise, resulting from a sudden placental abruption that placed both mother and child at risk, and the Countess had to undergo an emergency caesarean section at Frimley Park Hospital, while the Earl of Wessex rushed back from Mauritius.[21] The Countess returned to Frimley Park Hospital on 17 December 2007, to give birth, again by caesarean section, to her son, James, Viscount Severn.[22]

Activities

Public appearances

The Countess of Wessex's first overseas tour after her marriage was to the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island in 2000.[23]

In December 2011, the Countess of Wessex joined her husband visiting troops in Afghanistan. On the same trip, the royal couple visited Bahrain, and received two gifts of jewels from the Bahraini royal family and Prime Minister. Given concern about human rights abuses in Bahrain, this gift attracted controversy, with calls for the jewels to be sold, and the proceeds used for the benefit of the Bahraini people.[24] In February and March 2012, the Earl and Countess visited the Caribbean for the Diamond Jubilee, visiting Saint Lucia, Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla and Antigua and Barbuda. Highlights of the tour included the 50th Anniversary Independence Day celebrations in Saint Lucia, a joint address from both houses of the Barbados Parliament and a visit to sites affected by the recent volcanic eruptions in Montserrat.[25] In June 2012, as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, represented the Queen during a three-day tour to Gibraltar. The couple attended a Queen's Birthday Parade and toured Main Street, in the historic old town.[26]

In 2013, the couple visited South Africa and Sophie later made solo trips to India and Qatar as the patron of the sight-saving charity Orbis UK.[14] In her capacity as patron of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight and ambassador for IAPB, the Countess visited numerous facilities in Qatar and India in order to raise awareness about preventable blindness.[27][28] Her work on the issue has been described as influential in creating the Qatar Creating Vision initiative.[27] She subsequently wrote an article on the subject which was published on the Daily Telegraph in October 2013.[29] She made a similar visit to Bangladesh in November 2017.[30] The Countess as Colonel-in-Chief of Corps of Army Music, visited The Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra at the Royal Artillery Barracks, in London. On 3 March 2014, the Queen approved the title of "The Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra" for the new Army String Orchestra in recognition of the Corps of Army Music's Colonel-in-Chief.[31] In November 2014, the Countess was in Zambia representing the Queen at the State funeral of the late President of Zambia, Michael Sata.[32]

Sophie attending The Royal Cheshire County Show in 2015

On 26 March 2015, she attended the reburial of Richard III of England in Leicester Cathedral.[33] In May 2015, the Countess represented the Queen in the 70th anniversary celebrations to mark the Liberation Day of the Channel Islands. The Countess delivered a message from the Queen, who paid tribute to the island's continued allegiance and loyalty to the Crown.[34]. The Countess visited Canada and the United States in November 2015. While in Toronto, she criss-crossed across the city, making stops at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the UHN's Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital, of which she is patron. The two-day tour to Canada comes on the heels of a stop in New York City, where she paid an emotional visit to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. The Countess also made an appearance at an Armistice Day service at the Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden, which was opened in commemoration of the 67 British victims of the attack. In the evening, Sophie attended the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala dinner in New York.[35][36]

The Earl and Countess of Wessex were in Canada in June 2016, visiting Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The couple toured a variety of places in and around Regina, Saskatchewan before attending the Globe Theatre's 50th anniversary gala.[37] In March 2017, the Countess embarked on a 4-day visit to Malawi as Vice-Patron of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, visiting programmes to end avoidable blindness and champion young leaders.[38] On 9 May 2017, the Countess represented the British Royal Family during King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway's 80th Birthday Celebrations.[39][40] The Earl and Countess of Wessex represented the Queen at the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's Accession to the Throne of Brunei in October 2017.[41] On 30 November 2017, the Countess visited the ‘Making for Change’ fashion training and manufacturing unit at HM Prison Downview as London College of Fashion's Patron. 'Making for Change' is a fashion training and manufacturing unit established by the Ministry of Justice and London College of Fashion in 2014. During her visit, the Countess met staff and prisoners, including female inmates, and awarded participants with certificates as part of their training programme.[42][43]

An avid supporter of charities that deal with learning disabilities, the Countess made a solo trip to Belfast in January 2018 to visit a number of charities that she had supported through her work over the last decade including Mencap's children's centre.[44] She also opened the new dementia-friendly unit of Northern Ireland Hospice, the first of its kind in the UK.[44] The Earl and Countess of Wessex visited Sri Lanka in February 2018 to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Independence, Sri Lanka–United Kingdom relations, the Commonwealth, education and young people.[45] In October 2018, the Earl and Countess of Wessex toured the Baltic states.[46][47]

Charity work and patronages

The Earl and Countess of Wessex established their foundation The Wessex Youth Trust in 1999 with a focus to help, support and advance registered charities which provide opportunities specifically for children and young people.[48] In 2000, she became patron of a number of organisations, including Foundation of Light (formerly Sunderland A.F.C Foundation) which develops educational and community programmes in northern England, based around football.[49] Moved by the death of her friend Jill Dando in 1999, the Countess became a trustee of UCL Jill Dando Institute, an institute of crime science established in her name in 2001.[50]

In 2003, after quitting her business interests she became more involved in charity works and started to carry out solo engagements on behalf of the royal family.[50] She started to support charities that focus on communications difficulties, including Southampton General Hospital, and the New Haven Trust in Toronto a learning centre for children with autism.[50] She also became patron of Tomorrow's People Trust which helps the disadvantaged to find work, housing and a place in society.[51] The Countess became patron and ambassador of Meningitis Now, a charity that supports people who have experienced meningitis, and raising awareness of the disease.[52] In February 2003, she became patron to The Scar Free Foundation, a medical research charity raising and investing funds in wound healing, burns and cleft research.[53] In 2003, she succeeded Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother as patron of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.[54] The Countess, who was a Brownie as a child, became the new president of Girlguiding UK in 2003. She took over the presidency following the death of Princess Margaret in February 2002.[55] She established the Women in Business Group in 2003 to support the Duke of Edinburgh's Award reach more young people and help them develop skills that can transform their futures.[56] The Countess became Brainwave's president in 2003, a charity providing therapy for children with developmental delay.[57] In June 2003, she became royal patron of the Greater London Fund for the Blind which raises funds for smaller charities for visually impaired people in London.[58] The Countess has been National Autistic Society's royal patron since August 2003. She took over this role from The Princess Royal. [59] In 2004, she joined St John Ambulance as Grand President and heads the work of St John's County Presidents who provide a variety of support for their local St John members.[60] She has supported ChildLine for many years, and became their first patron in 2005.[61] In 2006, she lent her support to the Born in Bradford research project, which investigated causes of low birth weight and infant mortality between 2007 and 2010.[62][63] In September 2006, she was appointed an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.[64]

The Countess is a keen supporter of agriculture, farming and food production and held the position of Show President of the Royal Bath and West Show in 2010 before becoming Vice Patron in 2011.[65] She is also Patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations[66] and has been Patron of The Border Union Agricultural Society since its bicentennial year in 2012.[67] The Countess also works to support the ‘Campaign for Wool’ which was set up by The Prince of Wales and aims to promote the use of British wool.[68] In 2013, the Countess became the first ever Patron of London College of Fashion.[69] In June 2013, she was appointed global ambassador for The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation, an umbrella body co-ordinating organisations running The Duke of Edinburgh's Award worldwide.[70] She has been the chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Women's Network Forum since January 2014, a committee that was founded by her whose goal is the advancement of gender balance and equality by influencing business leaders, inspiring the next generation and sharing best practice.[71] In June 2014, the Countess was appointed the patron of Ubunye Foundation based in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. This is a rural development trust dedicated to unlocking the potential of rural communities.[72]

On the Countess's 50th birthday, she became Vice-Patron of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, a charitable foundation established in 2012 for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.[73] In February 2015, the Queen gave a joint reception to celebrate the patronages and affiliations of the Earl and the Countess of Wessex as well as their 50th birthday at Buckingham Palace. Elizabeth, accompanied by the couple, met key supporters, staff, volunteers and alumnus from the charities of which they are patron or president, as well as representatives from their various military appointments.[74][75] In November 2015, 100 Women in Hedge Funds announced that the Countess will serve as Global Ambassador of 100WF’s Next Generation initiatives.[76]

In September 2016, the Countess took part in a cycling challenge from the Holyrood Palace to Buckingham Palace for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Diamond Challenge. The ride raised more than £180,000 for the DofE's Award, which was celebrating its 60th anniversary. The Countess received a diamond pin to mark her completion of the Diamond Challenge.[77][78] Farming organisation Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF) in October 2016 named the Countess as its new Honorary President. LEAF’s mission is to be the leading global organisation delivering more sustainable food and farming.[79] In November 2016, she was announced as Women of the Future's official ambassador which supports and celebrates the successes of young women.[80] In December 2016, the Countess participated in ICAP charity day in order to raise money for Shooting Star Chase,[81] a children's hospice of which she has been a patron.[82] At the same month, after the Queen stepped down from her position as patron of numerous charities, Sophie replaced her as the principal patron of NSPCC, Blind Veterans UK and British Cycling Federation.[83][84][85]

Sophie playing with children in Mencap's children centre in Belfast, 2018

The Countess was elected president of the Devon County Agricultural Association in February 2017.[86] In May 2017, as Patron of the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association the Countess attended its 90th anniversary as well as the athlete awards dinner.[87] The Ice Maiden, five British Army women, received royal patronage from the Countess for their ambitious coast-to-coast ski expedition across Antarctica in October 2017. The team aimed to inspire women and girls everywhere to challenge perceptions and grow their ambitions.[88][89] In January 2018, the Countess became the Royal Patron of the Nursing Memorial Appeal. The Appeal aims to create a memorial dedicated to the 1,500 nurses who gave their lives in First and Second World Wars.[90] In February 2018, Westmorland Agricultural Society welcomed the Countess as its president.[91]

Fashion and style

Although Sophie was not initially prominent for her fashion style, she subsequently began to develop her own style and has worn outfits by many notable fashion designers.[92] The Countess has exclusively worn Jane Taylor millinery designs since 2009 on numerous occasions.[93] In a Marie Claire interview, Jane Taylor described her first royal commission: "My first royal client was the Countess of Wessex, and it was quite nerve-racking. But she wears such lovely clothes and she always looks so fabulous, so it's quite easy to design for her. Since she came to see me, she's never worn any other milliner's hats, which is a big compliment. I was really excited, honored, and slightly nervous."[94] Alongside the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex, Sophie has been named one of the most stylish members of the royal family.[92][95] The Countess who has been able to create her own fashion trend throughout the past years is particularly known for wearing different combinations of hats and coats, and favours silk dresses and frocks.[95] Describing her style in an interview by Sunday Express Sophie said: "It's about my charities but I recognize that I'm on display. [...] When you walk into a room, yes, people are going to talk about what you're doing there, but they're also going to want to know what you're wearing".[96] She also revealed that she has never had a stylist of her own and that she makes her fashion choices herself.[97] In 2015, the Countess was named on Vanity Fair's Best Dressed List.[98] Together with the Duchess of Cambridge, the Countess hosted the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange reception at Buckingham Palace during the 2018 London Fashion Week.[99][100]

Privacy and the media

Violation of privacy

In May 1999, less than a month before her wedding, The Sun published a photo of a topless Sophie with her Capital Radio colleague Chris Tarrant, which was taken during a business trip to Spain in 1988.[101][102][103] Buckingham Palace immediately issued a statement saying, "This morning's story in The Sun is a gross invasion of privacy and cannot be regarded as in the public interest. It has caused considerable distress."[101][103] Prime Minister Tony Blair also condemned the publication of the photograph.[101][102] The Palace made an official complaint to the Press Complaints Commission (PCC).[101][102] According to Sophie's business partner the incident had left her "distressed", and she was reportedly "devastated" and felt "she was 'letting the side down’ before her wedding".[103][101][104] Tarrant later said, "There was never, ever the slightest hint of romance between Sophie and myself, let alone these snidey insinuations."[101] Following its publication, the newspaper issued a statement and apologised to Rhys-Jones[101] and the next issue came out with the headline "Sorry, Sophie".[102] It also said that it would again apologise to Sophie in a letter and donate all sale proceeds of the issue to her charities.[102][105] The photo had been given to the tabloid by Kara Noble, a friend and colleague of Sophie, for £100,000.[101][102] Noble later apologised in the following months saying, "I just want to say sorry to everyone who was involved."[106] Both she and the newspaper faced criticism from the public,[101] and Noble was fired from her job at Heart 106.2 FM.[103] The couple later decided not to make a formal complaint.[105]

Media sting

In April 2001, Sophie appeared in the media after she was misled in a meeting at the Dorchester by a News of the World reporter posing as an Arab sheikh, Mazher Mahmood,[107][108] who was later exposed for perjury in Southwark Crown Court.[109] It was claimed by the newspapers that during their "secretly taped" conversation, the Countess had insulted the Royal Family and politicians, calling the Queen "old dear", and referring to Cherie Blair as "absolutely horrid, horrid, horrid", as well as criticising the leadership of Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, and mocking Leader of the Opposition William Hague's appearance.[107][108][110] It was reported by the Mail on Sunday and Sunday Mirror that the Countess subsequently had sent apology letters to Blair, Hague and Prince Charles.[107]

Buckingham Palace denied the accuracy of the reports saying, "The Countess of Wessex, who is trying to pursue her own career, is obviously vulnerable to set-ups such as this."[107] The Palace released a statement saying the reported comments were "selective, distorted and in several cases, flatly untrue".[107] The Palace officials stated that the Countess hadn't insulted the Queen, the Queen Mother, or the politicians, and the rumours about her difficulties in marriage and her alleged comments about her husband's sexuality were untrue, while according to the Mail on Sunday multiple reliable sources had confirmed these reports.[107] Subsequently, in 2002, both the Earl and Countess announced that they would quit their business interests in order to focus on activities and official engagements on behalf of the royal family and aid the Queen in her Golden Jubilee year.[111]

Jewellery gifts

The Countess of Wessex has been criticised for accepting two sets of jewels from the royal family of Bahrain during an official day-long[112] visit to the country in December 2011, as she and her husband returned to the UK from a trip to Afghanistan. She was given one set by Bahrain's king and a second set by the country’s prime minister, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Her husband, the Earl, received a pen and a watch as well as a silk rug from the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, who also gave the countess a silver and pearl cup. The value of the jewellery has not been estimated and its precise contents were not disclosed.[113]

Critics said the Countess should sell the gems and give the proceeds to political protesters in Bahrain. Denis MacShane, then a Labour MP and previously a Foreign Office minister, said: “Given the appalling suffering and repression of the Bahraini people, it would be a fitting gesture for the Countess of Wessex to auction these trinkets and distribute the proceeds to the victims of the regime.”[113]

Royal Family guidelines and procedures relating to gifts published by the government in 2003, state that "before accepting any gift, careful consideration should always be given, wherever practicable, to the donor, the reason for and occasion of the gift and the nature of the gift itself (..) Equally, before declining the offer of a gift, careful consideration should be given to any offence that might be caused by such action."[112]

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Since her marriage, Sophie has been styled as "Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex".[114]

Honours

Commonwealth

Honorary military appointments

Sophie dressed as Honorary Air Commodore on a visit to Kandahar, December 2011
Canada Canada
United Kingdom United Kingdom

Arms

Ancestry

Sophie descends from King Henry IV of England.[122] She is also related to the family of the Viscounts Molesworth by the descent of her paternal grandmother – Margaret Patricia Molesworth (1904–1985) – from Robert Molesworth, 1st Viscount Molesworth. Sophie's paternal grandfather, Theophilus Rhys-Jones (d. 1959), was headmaster of St Peter's School, Harefield, Exmouth, Devon.[123][124]

References

  1. ↑ "Re-dedication of the Memorial Hall by HRH The Countess of Wessex". Old Brutonian Magazine 2011: 2,3. Retrieved 13 March 2018. The Countess's father, Christopher Rhys-Jones, past president of the OBA, was also present
  2. ↑ "PR girl turns princess". BBC. 11 June 1999. Retrieved 14 March 2018. Mrs Rhys-Jones, a charity worker and secretary, has her own royal connection. As a young woman she once danced with Prince Philip at a society ball.
  3. ↑ "Countess of Wessex's mother dies". BBC. 29 August 2005. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
  4. ↑ "Person Page".
  5. ↑ Biography of Paul Bettany Archived 26 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ "PR girl turns princess". BBC News. 11 June 1999. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Sun apologises to 'devastated' Sophie Rhys-Jones". The Guardian. 26 May 1999. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  8. 1 2 Furness, Hannah (2 July 2012). "Countess of Wessex: the Royal Family's latest style icon?". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  9. ↑ Lowrie, Margaret (20 June 1999). "How 'sensible' and 'royal wedding' add up to 'yawn'". CNN. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  10. ↑ "Sophie: Life in the spotlight". BBC News. 2 April 2001. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  11. ↑ "History – Prince Edward's wedding (pictures, video, facts & news)". BBC. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  12. ↑ "Prince Edward announces his engagement". BBC. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  13. ↑ "Crown jewels: The fabulous rings which sealed the love of Europe's royal couples". HELLO! magazine. UK.
  14. 1 2 Seward, Ingrid (23 November 2013). "Sophie Wessex: The unsung star of the Royal family". The Telegraph.
  15. 1 2 "Edward & Sophie". People. 5 July 1999. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  16. 1 2 "Wessex titles for Edward and Sophie". BBC News. 19 June 1999. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  17. ↑ "The Crown Estate – Property Leases with the Royal Family". Report. National Audit Office (United Kingdom). 2005. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  18. ↑ "Royal Residences: Buckingham Palace". royal.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  19. ↑ "Earl and the Countess of Wessex to move out of Buckingham Palace". Royal Central. 30 June 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  20. ↑ "Baby joy for Sophie and Edward". BBC News. 6 May 2003. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  21. ↑ "Royal baby born prematurely". BBC News. 8 November 2003. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  22. ↑ "Countess gives birth to baby boy". BBC News. 17 December 2007. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
  23. ↑ Scott, Burke; Aimers, John (October 2001). "Wessexs' Tour a Triumph". Canadian Monarchist News. Monarchist League of Canada (Autumn 2001). Archived from the original on 8 July 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
  24. ↑ Sawer, Patrick (8 January 2012). "How a routine royal visit spelt trouble for the Countess of Wessex". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  25. ↑ Harris, Carolyn (15 February 2012). "Royals of the Caribbean: The 2012 Diamond Jubilee Commonwealth Tours Begin". royalhistorian.com. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  26. ↑ "Earl and Countess of Wessex greeted by overwhelming British patriotism in Gibraltar". hellomagazine.com. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  27. 1 2 "Qatar Creating Vision initiative". The Royal Family. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  28. ↑ "Sophie Wessex brings joy to eye patients in India". Hello!. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  29. ↑ HRH The Countess of Wessex (10 October 2013). "World Sight Day: Blindness is a matter of life and death, argues the Countess of Wessex". The Telegraph. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  30. ↑ Shahid, Sharnaz (21 November 2017). "Sophie Wessex shows off her maternal side as she meets locals in Bangladesh". Hello!. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  31. ↑ "Lunchtime Concert - The Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra". classical-music.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  32. ↑ "Countess of Wessex arrives for Sata's funeral". lusakavoice.com. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  33. ↑ "Richard III: Leicester Cathedral reburial service for king". BBC. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  34. ↑ "Thousands turn out for Liberation Day celebration". bbc.com. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  35. ↑ "Sophie, Countess of Wessex, visits Toronto's Royal Agricultural Winter Fair". ca.hellomagazine.com. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  36. ↑ "Sophie Wessex pays emotional visit to 9/11 memorial in New York". ca.hellomagazine.com. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  37. ↑ "The Earl and Countess of Wessex visit Canada". royal.uk. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  38. ↑ "Trust Vice-Patron to visit Malawi in Commonwealth Week to see the work of the Trust". jubileetribute.org. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  39. ↑ "Sophie Wessex makes glamorous appearance at royal birthday gathering". hellomagazine.com. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  40. ↑ "Countess of Wessex and European royals mark 80th birthdays of Norway's King and Queen". express.co.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  41. 1 2 "Edward & Sophie attend Sultan of Brunei's Golden Jubilee celebrations". thecrownchronicles.co.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  42. ↑ The Royal Family [@RoyalFamily] (30 November 2017). "'Making for Change' is a fashion training & manufacturing unit established by the Ministry of Justice and London College of Fashion, @UAL in 2014 at HMP Holloway. It moved to its new home of HMP Downview in summer 2016" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  43. ↑ The Royal Family [@RoyalFamily] (30 November 2017). "The Countess met staff and prisoners, including female inmate Trudy, and awarded participants with certificates as part of their training programme. Trudy received her ABC Level 1 Certificate in Fashion and Textiles" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  44. 1 2 "Sophie, Countess of Wessex visits NI charities". ITV. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  45. ↑ "The Earl and Countess of Wessex commemorate Sri Lanka's 70th Anniversary of Independence". royal.uk. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  46. ↑ "Kaljulaid: UK has been Estonia's ally for 100 years". ERR News. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  47. ↑ "The Earl and Countess of Wessex visit the Baltic States". The Royal Family. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  48. ↑ "The Wessex Youth Trust". wessexyouthtrust.org.uk. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  49. ↑ "Sunderland AFC gets royal recognition". Sunderland Echo. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  50. 1 2 3 Davies, Caroline (19 February 2003). "Sophie takes first steps towards a royal career". The Telegraph. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  51. ↑ "Sophie takes first steps towards a royal career". The Daily Telegraph. 19 February 2003. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  52. ↑ "Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex". meningitisnow.org.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  53. ↑ "We have a Single Aim: A World Without Scarring". scarfree.org.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  54. ↑ "Introducing the RCSLT". rcslt.org. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  55. ↑ "Countess is girlguides new president". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2003.
  56. ↑ "TRH The Earl and Countess of Wessex attend DofE Women in Business celebration". The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  57. ↑ "President". brainwave.org.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  58. ↑ "Announcements". thetimes.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2003.
  59. ↑ "Our structure and people". autism.org.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  60. ↑ "The Countess of Wessex attends the St John Ambulance Everyday Heroes Awards". royal.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  61. ↑ "The Countess celebrates 30 years of ChildLine". royal.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  62. ↑ "Profile: Earl and Countess of Wessex". BBC. 2 July 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  63. ↑ "Study of 10,000 babies launched". BBC. 27 October 2006. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  64. ↑ "Honorary Fellows". rcog.org.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  65. ↑ "Countess of Wessex vice patron at Bath and West society". bbc.com. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  66. ↑ The Royal Family [@RoyalFamily] (19 March 2018). "The Countess of Wessex as Patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  67. ↑ "Countess of Wessex takes 200th Border Union Show role". bbc.com. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  68. ↑ "THE COUNTESS OF WESSEX OPENS NEW WOOL BOARD OFFICES". britishwool.org.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  69. ↑ "The Countess of Wessex appointed patron of London College of Fashion". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  70. ↑ "HRH The Countess of Wessex appointed Global Ambassador". intaward.org. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  71. ↑ "TRH The Earl and Countess of Wessex attend DofE Women in Business celebration". The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  72. ↑ "A Royal Boost for the Ubunye Foundation". ubunyefoundation.co.za. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  73. ↑ "HRH The Countess of Wessex announced as Vice-Patron of the Trust". jubileetribute.org. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  74. ↑ "Queen poses with Prince Edward and Sophie". the sun.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  75. ↑ The Royal Family [@RoyalFamily] (10 February 2015). "The Queen and The Countess meet @ERantzen, representing @ISPCCChildline, and @RealRobFahey at TRH birthday reception" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  76. ↑ "HRH The Countess of Wessex – Global Ambassador, 100WF's Next Generation initiatives". 100womeninhedgefunds.org. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  77. ↑ "Countess of Wessex completes 450-mile cycling challenge". bbc.com. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  78. ↑ "Countess on wheels". BBC. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  79. ↑ "LEAF announces Countess of Wessex as new Honorary President". farminguk.com. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  80. ↑ "Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex announced as Women of the Future's official Ambassador". womenofthefuture.co.uk. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  81. ↑ Nash, Emily (7 December 2016). "Sophie Wessex takes to the trading floor for charity: 'That was so easy!'". Hello!. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  82. ↑ Barcelona, Ainhoa (9 February 2016). "Sophie Wessex makes emotional visit to children's hospice". Hello!. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  83. ↑ "Queen steps down as patron of children's charities". BBC. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  84. ↑ "Blind veteran from Cumbria meets The Countess of Wessex at military charity's Hampton Court show garden". The Confederation of Service Charities. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  85. ↑ "Charities and Patronages". royal.uk. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  86. ↑ "Countess elected president of agricultural association". middevonadvertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  87. ↑ "GOLD MEDALIST CONFIRMED AS GUEST SPEAKER". thebbsa.co.uk. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  88. ↑ "Meet the Team". icemaiden.erhosting.co.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  89. ↑ The Royal Family [@RoyalFamily] (20 January 2018). "'Congratulations Ice Maidens!' – The Countess of Wessex" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  90. ↑ The Royal Family [@RoyalFamily] (20 January 2018). "Today it has been announced that The Countess of Wessex will be the Royal Patron of The Nursing Memorial Appeal" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  91. ↑ "Countess of Wessex takes up top role at Westmorland Agricultural Society". westmorlandshow.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  92. 1 2 "As Sophie, Countess of Wessex turns 53, look back at her most stylish looks". The Telegraph. 20 January 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  93. ↑ "About Jane Taylor". janetaylorlondon.com. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  94. ↑ "Royal Style for Real Girls: Tips from Kate Middleton's Hat Maker Jane Taylor". marieclaire.com. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  95. 1 2 "Sophie, Countess of Wessex's most stylish moments". Hello!. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  96. ↑ Clinton, Leah Melby (20 October 2015). "Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Talks About the Real Fashion Pressures of Being a Royal". Glamour. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  97. ↑ Jessen, Monique (6 November 2015). "Why Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Skips the Stylist: 'She Does It All Herself'". People. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  98. ↑ Ward, Victoria (18 October 2015). "Sophie, Countess of Wessex tells how she 'caved into fashion'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  99. ↑ Davis, Jennifer (19 February 2018). "Pregnant Kate Middleton Hosts Fashion Reception at Buckingham Palace in Flirty Floral Dress". InStyle. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  100. ↑ Hill, Erin (19 February 2018). "Kate Middleton Steps Out in Black-and-White for Fashion Event Amid BAFTA Dress Code Backlash". People. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  101. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Sun apologises in royal picture row". BBC. 26 May 1999. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  102. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sun says 'sorry, Sophie'". BBC. 27 May 1999. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  103. 1 2 3 4 "Sun apologises to 'devastated' Sophie Rhys-Jones". The Guardian. 26 May 1999. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  104. ↑ Eden, Richard (16 September 2012). "Duchess of Cambridge receives support from Countess of Wessex in topless pictures row". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  105. 1 2 "Tabloid rapped over topless Sophie photo". BBC. 2 June 1999. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  106. ↑ "Noble sorry for Sophie snap". BBC. 19 March 2000. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  107. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Palace denies reports of Sophie insults". BBC. 2 April 2001. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  108. 1 2 "The fake sheikh and his greatest hits". The Independent. London. 6 September 2005. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  109. ↑ "Tulisa Contostavlos drugs trial collapses". BBC. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  110. ↑ "Word by word, Sophie digs herself deeper into trouble". The Guardian. 8 April 2001. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  111. ↑ "Sophie and Edward quit business roles". BBC News. 2 March 2002.
  112. 1 2 Staff writer (7 January 2012). "Countess of Wessex's Bahrain jewel gift criticised". BBC. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  113. 1 2 Bloxham, Andy (6 January 2012). "Countess of Wessex criticised for accepting jewels from Bahrain". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  114. ↑ "The Countess of Wessex – Titles". royal.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  115. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Honours and appointments: The Countess of Wessex". Royal Household. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  116. ↑ "The Countess of Wessex appointed to the Royal Victorian Order" (Press release). Queen's Printer. 20 January 2010. Archived from the original on 24 January 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  117. ↑ The Royal Family [@RoyalFamily] (21 March 2017). "The Countess of Wessex, as Grand President of @stjohnambulance has been awarded a Long Service Medal at the National Presidents' Conference" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  118. ↑ "The Earl and Countess of Wessex Receive Centennial Medal" (Press release). Government of Saskatchewan. 7 June 2005. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
  119. ↑ The Royal Family [@RoyalFamily] (5 October 2017). "The Earl and Countess of Wessex are in Brunei to attend The Sultan of Brunei's Golden Jubilee celebrations" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  120. ↑ "Garrison Community Council – Upcoming Events".
  121. 1 2 Sophie's new coat. BBC News. 19 May 1999. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  122. ↑ Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 2, page 2720.
  123. ↑ Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, volume 2, 2003. pages 2721–2731.
  124. ↑ "Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and Companionage". Kelly's Directories, 1973 – Gentry, page 781. Retrieved 14 March 2018. ....and has issue living, Cressida Helen b. 1971,– Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones (Homestead Farmhouse, Palmers Green Lane...
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Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by
The Duchess of Cornwall		 Ladies
HRH The Countess of Wessex 		Succeeded by
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