Can I just say? I’ve become increasingly obsessed with James, Viscount Severn. He’s such a severe-looking little guy. He’s the youngest child of Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, and Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex. James’ big sister is Lady Louisa, and I enjoy the fact that the Wessex children are included in so much. Incidentally, I thought the Wessexes’ kids would have been the model for the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ kids – like, they would have titles, just not prince & princess titles. But instead we got Private Archie. I’m still in my feelings about that one. Anyway, Sophie and Edward have been everywhere lately – Trooping the Colour, Order of the Garter, and Royal Ascot. As it turns out, this flurry of activity coincided with their twentieth wedding anniversary. Which is very cool.
Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, are celebrating 20 years of marriage in a very royal way! The couple marked their 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday by spending some quality time together at one of the highlights of the royals’ summer calendar: the second day of Royal Ascot.
Sophie wore a white dress (perhaps a nod to the special occasion!) topped with a patterned hat, while the Queen’s son looked dapper in his suit and tie as they watched the horse races. Despite the rainy weather, they seemed to enjoy the sporting event, also attended by Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
The couple, who are parents to 15-year-old Lady Louise and 11-year-old James, Viscount Severn, also joined many members of the royal family for the opening day of Royal Ascot on Tuesday. They even made time for a few sweet portraits in front of a backdrop of trees and pink flowers, which complemented Sophie’s patterned dress and matching head topper.
There are worse ways to spend your twentieth anniversary, and I hope that Edward at least took Sophie out to dinner or gave her a nice anniversary present after Royal Ascot. I always find Edward to be so dull, but Sophie seems to be such an important part of the royal family these days. If the Queen dotes on anyone, it’s Sophie… and Anne. Those two women are the Queen’s rocks within the family. I also find it weirdly funny that Edward is the one out of the Queen’s four kids with the most uneventful, unscandalous marital history. He waited, married someone age appropriate and experience-appropriate, and they stayed married. Anne, Charles and Andrew all divorced their first spouses.
More photos from the Wessexes at Royal Ascot this week:
Photos courtesy of Getty and WENN.
The profile pic of Edward, he is his father’s son.
And congrats on their 20th. I like Sophie and yeah, even Edward through association.
William looks increasingly like his Uncle Edward.
I love Sophie and Edward. Hardworking couple.
William and Edward do look a bit similar now. I think they almost look same age in some photos too.
I always think that Edward looks very much like the Queen – the most of all her children. And I really don’t think he looks much like William – except for the baldness.
He has a distinct look of Anne in some of those photos, which I have never noticed before.
Congratulations!
Why does he look severe? He looks like any normal kid here.
He looks serious at serious events. If you look at pictures of him at horse events or anything around cars, he’s relaxed.
I feel for him. He always looks so over the whole thing.
Check out his tie in the second pic. Someone has a sense of humor.
I must know how these hats stay on their heads. Are there pins? Is Velcro involved? Glue? I must know…
Aren’t there headbands under the hats?
Pins, very carefully inserted and/or elastics, woven into the hair or tucked under ponytails or updos. That’s why women keep their hats on inside (men are supposed to take their hats off indoors). Once a woman’s hat is on, it stays on.
@L84tea – Glue! 😆
Anytime you cover Edward all I can think of is how he is depicted in The Windors!!
Ha, in that case you should read “Gin O’Clock” it’s brilliant! Both the book and the Twitter feed @queen_uk
I just checked it out: it’s hysterical!! Thank you for the tip 😊
My gosh, my favorites are Bea and Euge.
I really like Sophie, the work she does and the fashion risks she sometimes takes. but I do wish she’d go back to shorter hair she had at the start of their marriage. Imho, her shorter hair really flattered her facial structure and looked quite a bit more youthful.
I liked her with the short hair too but also remember how much she looked like Princess Diana when they were first married.
She also looks to have very fine, straight hair. Difficult to keep a tiara pinned to short, fine hair.
I like Sophie. She had a rocky start but kept her head down and does well for her patronages.
I like Sophie. She comes across as pretty grounded for a member of the royal family. And I get the vibe she is a good mom. This is all just based on pictures and a few interactions caught on video, but its what I pick up from her.
She does seem like a good mum and both Sophie & Edward come across as very grounded, nice people. It might be dull but sometimes that can be a good thing.
Sophie almost died becoming a mom, I’ve always thought she cherishes her children a bit more fiercely because of that.
I’ve always been interested in QE’s relationship with Anne. Anne as a teenager seemed so self-possessed and assured of herself (someone tried to kidnap her and she told them to F off, if I recall correctly). The Annie Leibowitz’s photos a few years ago showed them to be quite affectionate. But interestingly I don’t think QE expressed any favoritism toward her as her only daughter. (Her favorite is Andrew, as a “surprise baby”, too bad he turned out to be a creep.)
It is well known that Anne is Phillip’s favorite child because of how hard-working and unfussy she is. I think he once said he wished she was the successor, or something like that.
I love how The Crown nailed Phillip’s preference for Anne without ever making it a major focus. It’s just background texture but you can tell Phillip prefers her.
It still shocks me, and I don’t know why, that Andrew is the youngest of the family.
Isn’t Edward about 4 years younger than Andrew?
He’s not. Andrew was born in 1960. He’s younger brother Edward was born in 1964.
Andrew is not the youngest, Edward is.
Okay then. I was thrown by the ‘surprise baby’ comment from Mumbles which I heard before and thought that I was the one mixed up all this time.
Yeah, I could have Google, but, no skin and what not.
@ Tiffany : The surprise baby comment refers to Andrew supposedly being unplanned as the queen had already delivered the heir and the spare – Charles and Anne. Supposedly she had Edward a few years later so that Andrew would have a companion sibling (Charles and Anne were quite a bit older).
Philip preferred Anne to Charles but Edward is his favorite child.
This. She’s the only girl so that makes her special, but his favorite is Edward. Only his favorite could have gotten away with the Royal Marines fiasco and lived to tell the tale.
I thought he thought Edward was dim, and was annoyed/disgusted when Edward dropped out of the military?
I do remember one quote from Philip, When asked by a member of the public who his favourite son was he replied ……”Anne”
Edward and Sophie’s daughter is named Louise, not Louisa.
Twenty years is quite an accomplishment for that family. I don’t know why anyone still says, “They’ll never divorce,” when it comes to the royals, given their track record. Though I think Sophie and Edward are a real love match, and not just an arrangement.
Well staying married with all the eyes of the world picking up every little action and fault, and the general difficulty in adjusting, for someone not born into royalty must put a strange on a marriage.
It’s not that hard. Be decent. Be generous. Shake hands. Show a genuine interest in what people are doing to make the community better. You never have to worry about the day to day paying bills, healthcare, driving through traffic. You can retreat to any of several private places where no one can see you. Not good at something? Have someone come in and tutor you. Dress up in expensive clothes made just for you and smile.
I often get the vibe that James hates the public attention and wants nothing more than for people to stop staring and taking his picture as he walks to and from royal events. (Fists clinched, jaw set, tense expression, body closed, head down.) Hopefully he’s a lighter, joyful child outside the spotlight of royal life.
My parents were talking to the Queen after church one day and it was when Princess Anne has been ill. Apparently TQ was saying that she really worried about Anne because she was ill but insisted on still working. And that after church she was going to go and call her to see how she was. Takeaway – no idea whether Anne is favourite child but her mum was worried about her in the way that any parent would be.
Sorry, I’m stuck on the “my parents were talking to the Queen after church one day” line LOL. You know, as one does.
(I believe you, the starting line just cracked me up.) and like I said yesterday, I like hearing anecdotes like that about the royals. It gives some warmth to them.
Yes, I also had to refocus on the rest of Sophie’s comment after that casually dropped phrase lol.
“My parents were talking to the Queen after church one day…” best opening line ever!! And Thanks Feeshalori for giving us a bit of insight into the “other” side of the Queen.
I think Andrew and Sarah are waiting until Philip passes away. I hope he hangs on just to spite them.
My parents mix with the Royals because of my Dad’s job. They don’t know any deep secrets about them but do see them up close and so get a sense of what they are like as people. In no particular order: Countess of Wessex – lovely and unassuming, professional, Prince Andrew – pompous, Harry and Meghan – striking, charismatic , look like they have a good time, Princess Anne – warm, great sense of humour, can be stern, Prince Philip – bad tempered, full of himself, liked scaring people, TQ – charismatic, serious, no messing her around, very switched on. They don’t know Willian or Kate.
MMMM. Delicious details! I always love, love first hand accounts and people’s impressions of the RF! Thank you!
Wow, thanks for this!
Lovely story Sophia. Please do tell more when you feel the need.
Have you ever heard anything on Sarah Ferguson? Just curious to know if Sarah Ferguson will ever get back in the Royal fold, by marrying Andrew again?
I get the feeling Andrew will remarry Sarah at some point for practical reasons. They way she has started appearing everywhere, makes me suspect he may have this in mind.
Did Andrew seem to wipe a tear at the end of the balcony appearance at TTC ?
Nice summary of the royals, thank you.
I would never have thought of Princess Anne as warm, a sense of humor and stern yes but never warm. Good to know, maybe I can shift my impression of her a bit!
I get what Harry and Meghan are doing, but i do wish Archie had at least an Hon. (Short for Honorable, the title given to aristo kids who aren’t important enough to be Lords or Ladies.
Archie does not to be honoured with a put up title. He is entitled to use Earl Archie. It is his parents who have declined to use the titles, a thing they could change any time.
Why though? Harry & Meghan market themselves as people who are aware of the social issues in the UK and you can’t escape the fact that being titled & entitled is still an imbalance. The class system is gone on paper but still very much present. Billionaire Lord Dyson for example, just donated something like £6,000,000 to his former school. A Private, fee paying school where the kids are already hugely advantaged in life. Meanwhile the local schools are struggling more than ever before in history to provide any kind of meaningful education. The situation is dire and the divide more present than ever.
I think it would be hypocritical to make out that they understand these issues and want to take a stand against them and still want their children to be part of that world.
The Issue of Edward & Sophie’s children’s titles is interesting. We hear all the time on here how children & grandchildren of the monarch automatically can be princess & princesses and so people go on about how that will be the case for Meghan & Harry’s children and yet other than Charles, Andrew is the only other child of the Queen who’s children have such titles.
Dyson actively campaigned for Brexit and since then has announced he will move his company’s headquarters to Singapore. When it comes to who qualifies as a decent human being aware of fellow humans struggling, I think we can safely rule him out. I would rather pick up crumbs manually from my floor before buying one of his products.
Blue Orange….Only Williams children have the automatic right to Prince/Princess title. The other male great grandchildren can use their fathers secondary titles (if he has one) or can be known as Lord/ Lady.
People generally confuse an honorific (or style) with a title.
It’s complicated stuff but Prince/Princess is basically just an courtesy title (honorific) in the UK, one is ‘styled’ prince (called a prince) but Duke is a ‘title’, it is a peerage, that’s why the Queen made William and Harry Dukes on their marriage and why Philip is always addressed officially as The Duke of Edinburgh.
Edward’s son is Viscount Severn because it is one of his fathers lesser titles, but Sophie and Edward decided against seeking/accepting HRH styles for their children, it doesn’t mean that they can’t be given one by the Queen at a later date (unlikely). Archie could be called Earl of Dumbarton if his parents wanted it, Charles may grant him HRH when he is king.
However Bea and Eugenie will always stay with (the honorific style) Princess that’s the best they can hope for unless the Queen awards them a higher rank (title) in the future which is very unlikely.
In British law as Anne is a female she cannot automatically pass the HRH ‘style’ to her children. Anne could have been made at least a Baroness or Countess in her own right, but she refused any peerage titles for her or her husbands and thus for her chidren. She was given the honorific (courtesy title) The Princess Royal simply to give her precedence in the family over the nieces and any in coming wives and grand nieces.
It’s the grandchildren of the monarch in the male line – so Anne’s children were not entitled to HRH Prince/ss. Andrew’s were. Edward’s were as well, but they chose not to go that route, which was probably a smart choice, but keep in mind his children were born….15 years after the York girls? roughly? Times had changed a lot by then.
Archie was not entitled to HRH Prince because he’s a great grandchild of the monarch, albeit in the male line. BUT he would be entitled to be HRH Prince once Charles ascends, but I doubt that will happen. Likewise initially only William’s oldest son would have been HRH Prince, so the queen changed it before George was born so that all his children would be entitled to HRH Prince/ss. (or else if Charlotte was first born, she would not have been Princess, even if she was the heir to the throne.)
I’ve started following the royal family IG account and Sophie is all over the place bringing attention to worthy causes, she seems to have done a lot of international trips recently and they both work hard. Good to see that they got some time together for their anniversary.
I wish the royal women could learn how hats work (hint: they don’t go on the side of your head). it makes me wonder if they know how other things work too, like do they use their spoons upside-down?
Yes, this is a pet peeve of mine.
Hi Mrs. K, fascinators are meant to be worn on either the right or left side of the head.
I thought you might enjoy this article, I found it very enlightening. 🙂
https://thebesthat.com/how-to-wear-a-fascinator/
Thank you! I didn’t even know they were called “fascinators.” However, are they still “fascinators” when they have broad brims (that look like they should be able to shield the eyes from the sun, but don’t because of the way they are placed)? Obviously, I don’t know fashion.
Congratulations !!
Hip Hip Hoorah!
A successful marriage.
I LOVE this jumpsuit on Sophie!!! She’s a royal fashion rebel and I love it!!!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7163233/Sophie-Wessex-shows-stylish-wardrobe-Royal-Ascot-wide-leg-navy-jumpsuit.html
I’ve personally met the Dukes of Kent and Gloucester (unassuming, professional), Prince Charles (exactly the same as you see on the TV) and the Queen. She is much smaller than you would think but packs an almighty punch – there is this aura around her and she seems pretty intimidating- but that could be because you know she is the Queen.
I don’t know any private info about any of the Royals and no one in my family has met the Duchess of York – sorry.
My Aunts best friend sometimes runs in Royal circles. My goss is that Prince Phillip hates Fergie, so they are waiting for him to go and then will remarry. This friend did they attended a dinner with Fergie and she got plastered and was rude. She sounds kinda fun lol
Congrats Edward and Sophie! I like them; they are good “utility players” for the Firm. I’ve rooted for them from the beginning: they got together after all the divorces and scandals from his siblings’ marriages happened and, for a while, Sophie was the only daughter-in-law. Also, they got married at a time when the BRF was facing another bout of waning popularity. But Edward and Sophie seem to have gained a reputation for keeping a low profile, living their lives and taking on the “ribbon cuttings” and “foreign royal wedding” jobs that most of the other members shy away from. I hope they have many more happy years together!
TEAM SOPHIE! For years she’s been my favorite on the royal scene. Her outfits are usually on point without being outstanding, she shows up, shuts up (rarely if ever comments to the press) and is always a class act. Her husband might be a bit of a dud, but who knows what happens behind closed doors? Also, her kids appear to be the most normal of the bunch. As the kids say “We stan” 😉