Sophie  (The Countess of Wessex ) Helen Rhys-Jones

• General Notes
  • 
    Title: Sophie, Countess of Wessex
    Full Name: Sophie Helen
    Father: Christopher Rhys-Jones
    Mother: Mary Rhys-Jones
    Relation to Elizabeth II: Daughter-in-law
    Born: January 20, 1965 at Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford
    Current Age: 46 years
    Married: Prince Edward on July 19, 1999 at St. George's Chapel, Windsor
    Children: Lady Louise Windsor, Viscount Severn
    
    Sophie Rhys-Jones has royal ancestry as a descendant of Henry II of France, and both Welsh and Scottish ancestry. She was educated at Dulwich College Preparatory school in Kent, and Kent College School for Girls, Pembury, before training as a secretary. She became the Countess of Wessex upon marrying Prince Edward in 1999.
    
    Sophie embarked on a career working in public relations for a variety of firms in London including Capital Radio, and PR companies The Quentin Bell Organisation and MacLaurin Communications. In 1996 she launched her own PR agency RJH Public Relations. She withdrew from her PR career in 2002.
    
    She and Prince Edward they were married at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on 19 June 1999 after meeting at a tennis event. On their wedding day the couple was made Earl and Countess of Wessex. They have two children Lady Louise Windsor born 8 November 2003, and James Viscount Severn born 17 December 2007.
    
    The Countess of Wessex supports her husband’s public roles and has interests in charitable organisations including the children’s charities and community projects. She is said to have a close relationship with her mother-in-law The Queen with whom she shares an interest in riding.
    
    She is patron of Girl Guiding UK. In December 2001 she suffered a potentially life threatening ectopic pregnancy, and the birth of her daughter Louise in 2003 was premature and by emergency caesarean, but the birth of her son James was without complications.