Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh(bornSophie Helen Rhys-Jones; 20 January 1965) is a member of theBritish royal family. She is married toPrince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, the youngest sibling ofKing Charles III.
Sophie grew up inBrenchley, Kent, and later attendedWest Kent College, training as a secretary. She then worked inpublic relations, representing firms across the UK, Switzerland and Australia before opening her own agency in 1996. She met Edward in 1987 while working forCapital Radio; they began dating in 1993. Their engagement was announced in January 1999, andthey marriedon 19 June atSt George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The couple have two children:Lady Louise Mountbatten-WindsorandJames Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex, who are respectively sixteenth and fifteenth inline to the British throneas of 2024.
In 2002, Sophie closed her business interests and began full-time work as a member of the royal family. She is the patron of over 70 charities and organisations, includingChildlineand theLondon College of Fashion. She undertakes over 200 engagements each year, including visits to schools, universities and military bases.Her charity work primarily revolves aroundpeople with disabilities,women's rights, avoidable blindness and agriculture.
Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones was born atRadcliffe Infirmary,Oxford, on 20 January 1965 into amiddle-classfamily.Her father, Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones (born 1931), is a retired sales director for an importer of industrial tyres and rubber goods.Her mother was Mary (née O'Sullivan; 1934–2005), a charity worker and secretary.She has an elder brother, David (born 1963), and was named after her father's sister, Helen, who died in a riding accident in 1960. Her godfather, actorThane Bettany, was her father'sstepbrother; both men spent their early life inSarawak, North Borneo, then aBritish Protectorateruled by theWhite Rajahs.
She descends fromKing Henry IV of Englandand is related to the family of theViscounts Molesworththrough her grandmother, Margaret Patricia Rhys-Jones (née Molesworth; 1904–1985), who was the great-granddaughter of theRev. John Molesworth, himself the father ofSir Guilford Molesworthand a great-grandson ofRobert Molesworth, 1st Viscount Molesworth.
Rhys-Jones was raised in a four-bedroom 17th-century farmhouse inBrenchley, Kent. She began her education atDulwich Preparatory School, before moving on toKent College, Pembury, where she was friends with Sarah Sienesi, with whom she subsequently shared a flat inFulhamand who later became herlady-in-waiting. Rhys-Jones then trained as a secretary atWest Kent College,Tonbridge.
She began a career inpublic relations, working for a variety of firms, including four years atCapital Radio,where she was assigned to the press and promotions department, as well as public relations companies The Quentin Bell Organisation and MacLaurin Communications & Media.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.
Prior to her marriage, Rhys-Jones lived atColeherne Court, London.
While working at Capital Radio, Rhys-Jones metPrince Edward, the youngest son of QueenElizabeth IIandPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, for the first time in 1987 when he was dating her friend.She met him again at a promotion shoot for the Prince Edward Summer Challenge to raise money for charity in 1993, and the two began their relationship soon afterwards.In December 1993 and amid growing speculation about whether they were planning to marry, Edward wrote a letter to newspaper editors, in which he denied any wedding plans and asked the media to respect their privacy.Edward proposed to Rhys-Jones at a vacation in the Bahamas in December 1998 and their engagement was announced on 6 January 1999.Edward proposed to her 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 (nowGarrard & Co) and is worth an estimated £105,000.Rhys-Jones, 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.
The wedding took place on 19 June 1999 atSt George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, a break from the weddings of Edward's older siblings, which were large, formal events atWestminster AbbeyorSt Paul's Cathedral.On the day of their marriage, Prince Edward was created ahereditary peerasEarl of Wessexwith thesubsidiary titleofViscount Severn(derived from the Welsh roots of his wife's family).
The couple spent their honeymoon atBalmoral Castle.Following their union, the Earl and Countess of Wessex moved toBagshot Park, their home inSurrey.While their private residence is Bagshot Park, their office and official London residence is based atBuckingham Palace.
In December 2001, Sophie was taken to the King Edward VII Hospital after feeling unwell. It was discovered that she was suffering from anectopic pregnancyand the foetus had to be removed.Two years later, on 8 November 2003, she prematurely gave birth to her daughter,Lady Louise, resulting from a suddenplacental abruptionthat placed both mother and child at risk, and the Countess had to undergo an emergencycaesarean sectionatFrimley Park Hospital, while the Earl of Wessex rushed back from Mauritius.Sophie returned to Frimley Park Hospital on 17 December 2007, to give birth, again by caesarean section, to her son,James(then Viscount Severn, now Earl of Wessex).
Sophie's first overseas tour after her marriage was to the Canadian province ofPrince Edward Islandin 2000.
In December 2011, the Countess of Wessex joined her husband visiting troops in Afghanistan. In February and March 2012, the Earl and Countess visited theCaribbeanfor theQueen's Diamond Jubilee, visiting Saint Lucia, Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago,Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis,Anguillaand 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 inMontserrat.In June 2012, as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Edward and Sophie, represented the Queen during a three-day tour toGibraltar. The couple attended a Queen's Birthday Parade and toured Main Street, in the historic old town.
In 2013, the couple visited South Africa. Later that year, the Countess made solo trips to India and Qatar as the patron of the sight-saving charity Orbis UK.She made a similar visit to Bangladesh in November 2017.Sophie, as Colonel-in-Chief ofCorps of Army Music, visited The Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra at theRoyal Artillery Barracks, in London. On 3 March 2014, the Queen approved the title of "TheCountess of Wessex's String Orchestra" for the new Army String Orchestra in recognition of the Corps of Army Music's Colonel-in-Chief.In November 2014, Sophie was in Zambia representing the Queen at the state funeral of the late president of Zambia,Michael Sata.
On 26 March 2015, Sophie attended thereburial of Richard III of EnglandinLeicester Cathedral.In May 2015, Sophie represented the Queen in the 70th anniversary celebrations to mark the Liberation Day of theChannel Islands. The Countess delivered a message from the Queen, who paid tribute to the island's continued allegiance and loyalty to the Crown.She visited Canada and the United States in November 2015. While in Toronto, she criss-crossed across the city, making stops at theRoyal Agricultural Winter Fairand the UHN'sToronto General HospitalandToronto Western Hospital, of which she is patron. Sophie then travelled to New York City, paying an emotional visit to theNational September 11 Memorial & Museum. Sophie also made an appearance at anArmistice Dayservice at theQueen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden, which was opened in commemoration of the 67 British victims of the attack. The Countess later attended the100 Women in Hedge FundsGala dinner inManhattan.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex toured Canada in June 2016, visitingOntario, Manitoba,SaskatchewanandAlberta. The couple visited a variety of places in and aroundRegina, Saskatchewanbefore attending the Globe Theatre's 50th anniversary gala.In March 2017, Sophie 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.On 9 May 2017, the Countess attended King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway's 80th Birthday Celebrations on behalf of the royal family.The Earl and Countess of Wessex represented the Queen at the50th Anniversary Celebrations of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's Accession to the Throne of Bruneiin October 2017.On 30 November 2017, Sophie visited the 'Making for Change' fashion training and manufacturing unit, a fashion training and manufacturing unit established by theMinistry of JusticeandLondon College of FashionatHM Prison Downviewas patron of the London College of Fashion During her visit, the Countess met staff and prisoners, including female inmates, and awarded participants with certificates as part of their training programme.
An avid supporter of charities that deal with learning disabilities, Sophie made a solo trip toBelfastin January 2018 to visit a number of charities that she had supported through her work over the last decade, includingMencap's children's centre.She also opened the new dementia-friendly unit of Northern Ireland Hospice, the first of its kind in the UK.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.In October 2018, Edward and Sophie toured theBaltic states.
In March 2019, the Countess travelled to New York City to attend the 63rd session of theUnited Nations Commission on the Status of Women(CSW). The annual event brought together more than 9,000 gender equality representatives from around the world. The CSW is "the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women."From 29 April to 3 May 2019, the Countess, Vice-Patron of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, visited India in her final overseas tour as vice-patron ahead of the Trust's planned closure in January 2020. Sophie saw the work the charitable foundation has supported to tackle avoidable blindness and heard about programmes successfully launched by Queen's Young Leaders.
In July 2019, the Earl and Countess visitedForfaron their first official visit to the town since the Queen granted the Earl the additional titleEarl of Forfarin March 2019.Later in October, Sophie visited Kosovo to meet victims of sexual violence after theKosovo Warand their families.By the end of 2019, Sophie had completed 236 official engagements.In March 2020, Sophie became the first member of the royal family to visit South Sudan. During the visit, which was requested by theForeign and Commonwealth Office, Sophie met victims and survivors of gender-based violence and promoted their rights by meeting the female political leaders in the country.
In January 2022, the Countess went on a solo visit to Qatar in her capacity as the global ambassador for theInternational Agency for the Prevention of Blindness(IAPB) to support the organisation's '2030 in Sight' initiative and visit projects by the Qatar Fund andOrbis Internationalaimed at improving eye tests and treatments in India and Bangladesh.As a supporter of theWomen Peace and Security Networkshe met with Afghan women refugees who had been evacuated from the country following the2021 Taliban offensive.In March 2022, Sophie went on a four-day solo trip to New York City, visiting theQueen Elizabeth II September 11th Gardenand Consuls General from across the Commonwealth to mark theCommonwealth Day.She also delivered the keynote address onwomen's rights in Afghanistanat an event hosted by theUN Womenand theGeorgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security.
In April 2022, Edward and Sophie toured Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda to mark theQueen's Platinum Jubilee.Their planned visit to Grenada was postponed after talks with the island's government and governor general, and the couple expressed their hopes to visit the country on a later date.In October 2022, she visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo to engage with projects preventing sexual and gender-based violence in conflict, becoming the first member of the royal family to visit the country.The tour also included visits to Rwanda, Botswana, and Malawi.After her husband was createdDuke of Edinburghon his 59th birthday, Sophie and Edward visited Edinburgh to meet with members of the Ukrainian and Eastern European communities in the city, some of whom were displaced following theRussian invasion of Ukraine.In May 2023, Sophie visited Iraq at the request of the Foreign Office to promote the Women, Peace and Security agenda and raise awareness about conflict-related sexual violence.She became the first member of the royal family to visitBaghdad.On 29 April 2024, the Duchess visitedUkraine, the first British royal to make the trip since the Russian invasion, where she met with PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyi. Sophie also met with survivors of war-related sexual violence and torture as well as children who had been returned to Ukraine after beingabducted from their familiesby Russia. She also paid her respects to victims of themassacreinBucha.In October 2024, she became the first member of the royal family to visit Chad where she met with refugees who had fled to the country following theSudanese civil warand had experienced sexual violence during the conflict.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex established their foundation The Wessex Youth Trust in 1999 to support initiatives and charities that help children and young people.After twenty years of operation, the Wessex Youth Trust was renamed the Earl and Countess of Wessex Charitable Trust in 2019 and its management was transferred to the Private Office of the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar. It was announced that the Trust's broad charitable objectives would not change, however, their future efforts would be aimed towards supporting a different range of charities.
In 2000, she becamepatronof a number of organisations, includingFoundation of Light(formerlySunderland A.F.CFoundation) which develops educational and community programmes in northern England, based around football.Moved by the death of her friendJill Dandoin 1999, the Countess became a trustee ofUCL Jill Dando Institute, an institute of crime science established in her name in 2001.As a full-time member of the royal family, part of her focus became charities that dealt with communications difficulties, includingSouthampton General Hospital, and the New Haven Trust inToronto, a learning centre for children with autism.In 2003, she became patron of Tomorrow's People Trust, which helps the disadvantaged to find work, housing and a place in society.In February 2003, Sophie became patron and ambassador ofMeningitis Now, a charity that supports meningitis patients and raises awareness of the disease.Later that month, she became patron toThe Scar Free Foundation, a medical research charity coordinating funds in wound healing, burns and cleft research.In 2003, she succeededQueen Elizabeth The Queen Motheras patron of theRoyal College of Speech and Language Therapists.Also in 2003, she became patron of the Moor House School & College, which specialises in helping children who haveDevelopmental language disorder.
Sophie, who was aBrownieas a child, became the new president ofGirlguiding UKin 2003, following the death ofPrincess Margaretin February 2002,and remained in that position until 2024 when she became the organisation's patron subsequent tothe Queen's deathin 2022.She established the Women in Business Group in 2003 to supportthe Duke of Edinburgh's Awardand reach more young people to help them develop skills that can transform their futures.The Countess became president of the Brainwave Centre in 2003, a charity providing therapy for children with developmental delay.In June 2003, she became patron of theGreater London Fund for the Blind, which raises funds for smaller charities for visually impaired people in London.In August 2003, the Countess received patronage of theNational Autistic Society, passed down from thePrincess Royal.In 2004, she joinedSt John Ambulanceas grand president, and heads the work of St John's County Presidents, who provide a variety of support for their local St John members.She was associated withChildLinefor many years, preceding her appointment as their first ever royal patron in 2005.In 2006, she lent her support to theBorn in Bradfordresearch project, which investigated causes oflow birth weightandinfant mortalitybetween 2007 and 2010.In September 2006, she was appointed an Honorary Fellow of theRoyal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.In the same year, she became patron ofEngland Hockey.
Sophie is a supporter of agriculture, farming and food production and held the position of show president of theRoyal Bath and West Showin 2010 before becoming vice patron in 2011.She is also patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisationsand has been patron of the Border Union Agricultural Society since its bicentennial year in 2012.Sophie works to support the 'Campaign for Wool', which was set up by the then-Prince of Wales, and aims to promote the use of British wool.During her 2013 trips to India, and Qatar, the Countess visited numerous facilities in her capacity as patron of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight and ambassador for IAPB, in order to raise awareness about preventable blindness. Her work on the issue has been described as influential in creating the Qatar Creating Vision initiative.In 2013, Sophie became the first ever patron of theLondon College of Fashionand was announced as the royal patron ofBritish Wheelchair Basketball.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.She has been the founder and chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Women's Network Forum since January 2014, whose goal is the advancement of gender balance and equality by influencing business leaders, inspiring the next generation and sharing best practice.In June 2014, the Countess was appointed the patron of Ubunye Foundation, based in theEastern Cape, South Africa, a rural development trust dedicated to unlocking the potential of rural communities.
On Sophie's 50th birthday, she became vice patron of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, a charitable foundation established in 2012 forQueen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.The trust was a time-limited foundation and closed on 31 January 2020.In February 2015, the Queen gave a joint reception to celebrate the 50th birthdays of the Earl and Countess, as well as their patronages and affiliations, atBuckingham Palace. Elizabeth, accompanied by the couple, met key supporters, staff, volunteers and alumni from the charities of their patronage and presidency, as well as representatives from their various military appointments.In November 2015,100 Women in Hedge Fundsannounced that the Countess will serve as Global Ambassador of 100WF's Next Generation initiatives.In September 2016, Sophie took part in a cycling challenge from theHolyrood PalacetoBuckingham Palacefor the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Diamond Challenge. The ride raised more than £180,000 for the Award, which was celebrating its 60th anniversary.Linking Environment And Farming named Sophie as its new honorary president in October 2016.In November 2016, she was announced as Women of the Future's official ambassador, which supports and celebrates the successes of young women.In December 2016, the Countess participated in ICAP charity day in order to raise money forShooting Star Chase,a children's hospice of which she is patron.During the same month, after the Queen stepped down from her position as patron of numerous charities, Sophie replaced her as the principal patron ofNSPCC,Blind Veterans UKandBritish Cycling Federation.
The Countess of Wessex was elected president of the Devon County Agricultural Association in February 2017.In May 2017, as patron of theBritish Bobsleigh and Skeleton AssociationSophie attended its 90th anniversary and commemorative athlete awards dinner.The Ice Maiden, fiveBritish Armywomen, received royal patronage from the Countess for their ambitious coast-to-coast ski expedition acrossAntarcticain October 2017. The team aimed to inspire women and girls everywhere to challenge perceptions and grow their ambitions.In January 2018, Sophie 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.In February 2018, Westmorland Agricultural Society welcomed the Countess as its president.In January 2019, Sophie became the patron of theThames Valley Air Ambulance, which saved her life during her ectopic pregnancy in 2001.On 29 January, she was elected president of the Royal Smithfield Club, which promotes the education and knowledge to advance best practice in the meat and livestock industry.OnInternational Women's DayMarch 2019, Sophie officially announced her involvement in taking a stand against sex crimes in conflict zones, joiningAngelina Jolieto work with the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) as well as Women, Peace and Security (WPS) formed 20 years ago to tackle the impact of armed conflict on women and girls, and to promote the positive role women play in building peace and stability.On 25 April 2019, it was announced that the Countess, along with her husband and her brother-in-law, theDuke of York, have each been appointed vice president of the annualRoyal Windsor Horse Show.In May 2019, she took over the patronage of theChartered Management Institutefrom Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
In April 2020, the Countess helped Rhubarb, a catering company, in preparing and delivering food to NHS staff amidst thecoronavirus pandemic, an initiative organised byIan Wace.Sophie has also volunteered at local food banks, including the Hope Hub and the Lighthouse, in Surrey and delivered parcels to the homeless during the pandemic.In September 2020, Sophie, alongside her husband and children, participated in the Great British Beach Clean at Southsea Beach in support of theMarine Conservation Society.
In February 2021, as grand president of St John Ambulance, the Countess started working as a care volunteer at an NHS vaccination centre.In May 2021, Sophie become royal patron ofWellbeing of Women, a charity focused on all areas of women's reproductive health across a woman's life course, from menstrual health to menopause.A patron of this charity, she later discussed her own struggles with menopause and how it affected her memory.In July 2021,Princess Alexandrahanded over the patronage ofThe Guide Dogs for the Blind Associationto Sophie.In December 2022, Sophie was honoured at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, where she received the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for her work concerning sexual violence in war zones.
At the start of her relationship with Prince Edward, Sophie was referred to as "thegirl next door", and noted for her successful career and ordinary background.In the early years of her marriage, Sophie faced public scrutiny for her business interests, and was often compared to the lateDiana, Princess of Wales, who had died two years earlier.On her transition to becoming a full-time royal, she later stated: "Certainly it took me a while to find my feet. The frustration was I had to reduce my expectations of what I could actually do. I couldn't turn up at a charity and go, right, I think you should be doing this, because that's what I was used to doing in my working life. I had to take a really big step back and go, OK, they want you to be the icing on the cake, the person to come in to thank their volunteers and funders, not necessarily to tell them how to run their communications plan."
Sophie has since been cited as an under-the-radar "stabilizing influence" and a "safe pair of hands".She has been said to have a low-key approach to royal engagements, and often drives herself to and from events.Amanda Pullingerstated toTown and Country, "She actually presents herself as an ordinary person and I think that is increasingly what the royal family needs to do."She has also been noted for her long-term work on "gritty" subject matters such asgender-based violencein conflict, and trips to "difficult areas", such as South Sudan and Sierra Leone.The Countess's engagements gained significant attention from the public post-Megxit, with her charity work and style choices receiving increased commentary and analysis.Writer Ingrid Seward states that Sophie "is not a self-publicist....She looks good, without being over-the-top, and she's not craving celebrity. You often wouldn't know she had carried out all those engagements."
Sophie was not initially prominent for her fashion, but eventually began to develop her own style and has worn outfits by many notable designers.She has exclusively worn Jane Taylormillinerydesigns since 2009 on numerous occasions.In aMarie Claireinterview, 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."Alongside thePrincess of Walesand theDuchess of Sussex, Sophie has been named one of the most stylish members of the royal family.Sophie is particularly known for wearing different combinations of hats and coats, and favours silk dresses and frocks.Describing her style in an interview bySunday ExpressSophie 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".She also revealed that she has never had a stylist of her own and that she makes her fashion choices herself.In 2015, the Countess was named onVanity Fair's Best Dressed List.Together with the then-Duchess of Cambridge, Sophie hosted the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange reception at Buckingham Palace during the 2018London Fashion Week.
In May 1999, less than a month before her wedding,The Sunpublished a photo of a topless Sophie with her Capital Radio colleagueChris Tarrant, which was taken during a business trip to Spain in 1988.Buckingham Palace immediately issued a statement saying, "This morning's story inThe Sunis a gross invasion of privacy and cannot be regarded as in the public interest. It has caused considerable distress."Prime MinisterTony Blairalso condemned the publication of the photograph.The Palace made an official complaint to thePress Complaints Commission(PCC).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".Tarrant later said, "There was never, ever the slightest hint of romance between Sophie and myself, let alone these snidey insinuations."Following its publication, the newspaper issued a statement and apologised to Rhys-Jonesand the next issue came out with the headline "Sorry, Sophie".It also said that it would again apologise to Sophie in a letter and donate all sale proceeds of the issue to her charities.The photo was sold to the tabloid by Kara Noble, a former friend and colleague of Sophie.Noble later apologised in the following months saying, "I just want to say sorry to everyone who was involved."Both she and the newspaper faced criticism from the public,and Noble was fired from her job atHeart 106.2 FM.The couple later decided not to make a formal complaint.
In 2011, close associates ofJonathan Rees, a private investigator connected to theNews Internationalphone hacking scandal, stated that he had penetrated Sophie and Edward's bank accounts and sold details about them to theSunday Mirror.
In April 2001, Sophie appeared in the media after she was misled in a meeting atthe Dorchesterby aNews of the Worldreporter posing as an Arab sheikh,Mazher Mahmood,who was later exposed forperjuryinSouthwark Crown Court.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 criticising the leadership of prime ministersJohn MajorandTony BlairandChancellor of the ExchequerGordon Brown.She also reportedly commented on Prince Charles's relationship with his then-partnerCamilla, arguing that a marriage would not be possible as long as the Queen Mother was alive.However, despite some initial reports, the paper acquitted her of referring toCherie Blairas "absolutely horrid" and mockingLeader of the OppositionWilliam Hague's appearance.Murray Harkin, Sophie's business partner who was also present at the meeting, was recorded discussing his sex life and cocaine use and boasting about Sophie's abilities in securing celebrities for various events.Tabloid newspapersclaimed the Countess had sent apology letters to Blair, Hague and Prince Charles.
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."The Palace released a statement saying the reported comments were "selective, distorted and in several cases, flatly untrue".The Palace officials stated that Sophie had not insulted the Queen, the Queen Mother, or the politicians, while according to theMail on Sundayfour reliable sources had confirmed these reports.TheNews of the Worldattributed the negative reactions to the jealousy of the rival media, as the outlet had previously conducted an interview with Sophie in which she addressed the rumours about her difficulties in marriage and discussed her husband's sexuality.Sophie had reportedly agreed to the intimate interview on the condition that the newspaper would not publish transcript of the tapes.In a separate statement Sophie said she was "distressed by the carrying out of an entrapment operation" on her, but also regretted her "own misjudgment in succumbing to that subterfuge".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 inher Golden Jubileeyear.
The Countess of Wessex was criticised for accepting two sets of jewels from theroyal familyof Bahrain during an official day-longvisit 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 byBahrain's kingand a second set by the country's prime minister, SheikhKhalifa 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, SheikhSalman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who also gave Sophie a silver and pearl cup. The value of the jewellery has not been estimated and its precise contents were not disclosed.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 theBahraini people.
Critics said the Countess should sell the gems and give the proceeds topolitical protestersin Bahrain.Denis MacShane, then aLabourMember of Parliament(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."
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."
Sophie wasstyledas "Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex" from her marriage in 1999 to 2023. On 10 March 2019, her husband was createdEarl of Forfar, according her thetitle by courtesyof Countess of Forfar.She was at times referred to as the Countess of Wessex and Forfar, such as at the funeralsof her father-in-lawandmother-in-law.Since 10 March 2023, when her husband was advanced asDuke of Edinburgh(for life), she has been known as "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh".