In a family filled with headline-makers, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, often flies under the radar.
But Sophie is nevertheless an icon in her own right.
She is lauded asstylishandhard-workingroyal whose efforts, while not as widely reported on, are appreciated by the firm.
The couple has been married for decades and they have two children together, Louise and James.
While Sophie’s story isn’t exactly a rags-to-riches story, her story is still a captivating one.
Still, Sophie’s youth was quite comfortable.
She attended private school and grew up in a historic house.
Her childhood home, Homestead Farmhouse, dates back to the 17th century.
Though her family was middle-class when Sophie was growing up, they do have royal roots.
Her father’s family has ties to nobility through the Viscounts Molesworth (viaExpress).
She is also descended from two kings: King Edward III and King Henry IV.
PerEnglish Monarchs, Sophie and Prince Edward are 11th cousins once removed.
Sophie finally found her true calling in public relations, landing a job with Maclaurin Communication and Media.
The two first met in 1987, according toHello!
magazine, but it wasn’t love at first sight.
According to Seward, Sophie fought for the relationship, though.
“She was not prepared to let the relationship flounder,” she wrote.
“When rumors of the rift became public she dismissed them as ‘rubbish.’
noted that the stunning ring with which he proposed is believed to have cost him over 105,000.
The couple wanted an understated celebration without the usual parade of global representatives or military ceremony or hats.
“It was a great private moment.”
“[But] we are very different people.”
The scandal prompted Sophie’s early retirement from professional life.
After it broke, Sophie announced she was stepping down as chairman of the company, notedThe Washington Post.
As she was adjusting to motherhood, she was also adjusting to life as a full-time working royal.
Sophie went from running her own company to being more of a supporting character for the firm.
Theofficial website of the royal familynotes that Sophie is involved with some 70 organizations and charities.
Among the causes she supports are young people, agriculture, and “eradicating avoidable blindness.”
Instead,Expressnotes, they are known as Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn.
“Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles.
“When they are with the Queen, she is their grandmother.”
Sophie’s own son is ahead of her daughter inthe line of succession, despite beingseveral years younger.
There will be bigger slices of a bigger cake for everyone.”
She supported Prince Harry and Meghan Markle when they left the U.K. Amid the media frenzy, Sophie stood by her nephew and his wife.
She was also reportedly a source of support for the monarch towards the end of Prince Philip’s life.
“She may be the monarchy’s secret weapon whenever the going gets tough.”
TheIndependentnotes that Sophie and Prince Edward have helped fill in the gap.
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, spoke to reporters about his death.
“It was so gentle,” she said after his funeral (viaPeople).
“It was just like somebody took him by the hand and off he went.
Very, very peaceful.
And that’s all you want for somebody isn’t it?”
Charles' rumored plan includes bringing the total number of working royals to just eight (viaInsider).
