Editing Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (section)

==Marriage and children==
{{Further|Wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones}}
[[File:The Earl and Countess of Wessex.JPG|thumb|left|200px|Sophie and [[Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh|Edward]] at [[Trooping the Colour]] in London, June 2013]]
While working at Capital Radio, Rhys-Jones met [[Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Edward]], the youngest son of Queen [[Elizabeth II]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]], for the first time in 1987 when he was dating her friend.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1256202.stm|title=Sophie: Life in the spotlight|work=BBC News|date=2 April 2001|access-date=5 February 2017|archive-date=6 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206024258/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1256202.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Meares-Mar22">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/07/prince-edward-and-sophie-from-pr-blunders-to-frontline-royals/|title=How Prince Edward and Sophie Evolved From P.R. Blunders to Become Key Frontline Royals|magazine=Vanity Fair|first=Hadley|last=Hall Meares|date=15 July 2021|access-date=7 April 2022|archive-date=18 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018121102/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/07/prince-edward-and-sophie-from-pr-blunders-to-frontline-royals|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/events/prince_edwards_wedding |title=History – Prince Edward's wedding (pictures, video, facts & news) |publisher=BBC |access-date=27 December 2011 |archive-date=20 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120043112/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/events/prince_edwards_wedding |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/12/21/UPI-Spotlight-Prince-Edward-asks-British-editors-to-respect-his-privacy/7328756450000/|title=Prince Edward asks British editors to respect his privacy|work=UPI|date=21 December 1993|access-date=17 July 2022}}</ref> Edward proposed to Rhys-Jones at a vacation in the Bahamas in December 1998 and their engagement was announced on 6 January 1999.<ref name="Meares-Mar22"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00g8ypy|title=Prince Edward announces his engagement|publisher=BBC|date=24 November 2009|access-date=12 April 2018|archive-date=15 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015234714/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00g8ypy|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 (now [[Garrard & Co]]) and is worth an estimated £105,000.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://royalweddings.helloonline.com/prince-william-and-kate-middleton/galeria/20100922403/kate-middleton/prince-william/rings/1/11/#ancla |title=Crown jewels: The fabulous rings which sealed the love of Europe's royal couples |work=HELLO! magazine |location=UK |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-date=23 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323130513/http://royalweddings.hellomagazine.com/prince-william-and-kate-middleton/galeria/20100922403/kate-middleton/prince-william/rings/1/11/#ancla |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Tel-2013"/>

The wedding took place on 19 June 1999 at [[St George's Chapel, 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]].<ref name="Ppl-99">{{cite magazine|url=http://people.com/archive/cover-story-edward-sophie-vol-51-no-25/|title=Edward & Sophie|magazine=People|date=5 July 1999|access-date=10 March 2018|archive-date=11 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311021143/http://people.com/archive/cover-story-edward-sophie-vol-51-no-25/|url-status=live}}</ref> On the day of their marriage, Prince Edward was created a [[Peerage of the United Kingdom|hereditary peer]] as [[Earl of Wessex]] with the [[subsidiary title]] of [[Viscount Severn]] (derived from the Welsh roots of his wife's family).<ref name=bbcroyaltitles>{{cite news| title=Wessex titles for Edward and Sophie| work=[[BBC News]]| date=19 June 1999| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1999/06/99/royal_wedding/373120.stm| access-date=3 May 2011| archive-date=6 August 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806214140/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1999/06/99/royal_wedding/373120.stm| url-status=live}}</ref>

The couple spent their honeymoon at [[Balmoral Castle]].<ref name="Ppl-99"/> Following their union, the Earl and Countess of Wessex moved to [[Bagshot Park]], their home in [[Surrey]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nao.org.uk/report/the-crown-estate-property-leases-with-the-royal-family/ | title=The Crown Estate – Property Leases with the Royal Family | publisher=[[National Audit Office (United Kingdom)]] | work=Report | date=2005 | access-date=16 April 2015 | archive-date=5 April 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405002325/http://www.nao.org.uk/report/the-crown-estate-property-leases-with-the-royal-family/ | url-status=live }}</ref> While their private residence is Bagshot Park, their office and official London residence is based at [[Buckingham Palace]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royal.uk/royal-residences-buckingham-palace|title=Royal Residences: Buckingham Palace|date=12 November 2015|publisher=royal.uk|access-date=21 May 2018|archive-date=9 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509132429/https://www.royal.uk/royal-residences-buckingham-palace|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2001, Sophie 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.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=6 May 2003 |title=Baby joy for Sophie and Edward |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3003397.stm |newspaper=[[BBC News]] |access-date=5 May 2015 |archive-date=5 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505062822/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3003397.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Two years later, on 8 November 2003, she prematurely gave birth to her daughter, [[Lady 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.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/8/newsid_3724000/3724342.stm | title=Royal baby born prematurely | work=BBC News | date=8 November 2003 | access-date=11 May 2010 | archive-date=24 February 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224170030/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/8/newsid_3724000/3724342.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> Sophie returned to Frimley Park Hospital on 17 December 2007, to give birth, again by caesarean section, to her son, [[James, Earl of Wessex|James]] (then Viscount Severn, now Earl of Wessex).<ref name="BBC birth">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7148830.stm |title=Countess gives birth to baby boy |work=BBC News |date=17 December 2007 |access-date=27 October 2008 |archive-date=13 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113040744/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7148830.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>