Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sophie |
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Sophie in 2023
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| Born | Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones 20 January 1965 Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, England |
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| House | Windsor (by marriage) |
| Father | Christopher Rhys-Jones |
| Mother | Mary O'Sullivan |
| Education | West Kent College |
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Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (born Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones on 20 January 1965) is a member of the British royal family. She is married to Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, who is the youngest brother of King Charles III.
Sophie grew up in Brenchley, Kent. After attending West Kent College, she trained to be a secretary. She later worked in public relations for companies in the UK, Switzerland, and Australia. In 1996, she started her own public relations company.
She met Prince Edward in 1987. They started dating in 1993 and announced their engagement in January 1999. They married on 19 June 1999, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The couple has two children: Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex.
In 2002, Sophie stopped working at her company to become a full-time working member of the royal family. She is a patron of more than 70 charities, including Childline. She carries out over 200 royal duties each year, such as visiting schools, hospitals, and military bases. Her charity work focuses on helping people with disabilities, supporting women's rights, preventing blindness, and promoting agriculture.
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Early Life and Career
Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones was born in Oxford, England, on 20 January 1965. Her father, Christopher, was a sales director, and her mother, Mary, was a charity worker and secretary. She has an older brother named David. Sophie grew up in a 17th-century farmhouse in Brenchley, Kent.
She went to Dulwich Preparatory School and later Kent College. After school, she trained as a secretary at West Kent College.
Sophie began her career in public relations. She worked for several companies, including Capital Radio. She also worked as a ski representative in Switzerland and spent a year traveling and working in Australia. In 1996, she started her own public relations agency, which she ran for five years.
Marriage and Children
Sophie first met Prince Edward in 1987 when he was dating her friend. They met again in 1993 at a charity event and soon began their relationship. Prince Edward proposed to Sophie in the Bahamas in December 1998. Their engagement was announced on 6 January 1999.
Their wedding took place on 19 June 1999, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. This was a smaller, more private wedding compared to those of Edward's older siblings. On their wedding day, Prince Edward was given the title Earl of Wessex, and Sophie became the Countess of Wessex.
The couple lives at Bagshot Park in Surrey. In 2001, Sophie had a serious health issue with an ectopic pregnancy. On 8 November 2003, her daughter, Lady Louise, was born prematurely after a medical emergency. Sophie gave birth to her son, James, on 17 December 2007.
Royal Duties and Tours
Sophie's first official trip abroad as a royal was to the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island in 2000. Since then, she and her husband, Prince Edward, have traveled the world representing the royal family.
Representing the Queen
In 2012, Sophie and Edward visited the Caribbean for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. They visited many countries, including Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Grenada. They also represented the Queen in Gibraltar for the Jubilee celebrations.
The couple has visited many other places, including South Africa, Canada, and the Baltic states. Sophie often travels alone for her charity work. She has visited India, Qatar, and Bangladesh to support charities that work to prevent blindness.
Supporting Important Causes
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Much of Sophie's work focuses on difficult but important issues. In March 2019, she attended a United Nations meeting in New York City to discuss women's rights. She has also visited Kosovo to meet with survivors of violence during the Kosovo War.
In March 2020, Sophie became the first member of the royal family to visit South Sudan. She met with survivors of gender-based violence and supported women's rights. In October 2022, she visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo for similar work, becoming the first royal to visit that country.
In April 2024, Sophie visited Ukraine to show support during the conflict with Russia. She met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and with people affected by the war.
Charity Work
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Sophie is the patron of over 70 charities and organizations. She and Prince Edward started The Wessex Youth Trust in 1999 to help children and young people.
Key Areas of Focus
- Disabilities and Health: Sophie supports many charities that help people with disabilities and health problems. She is a patron of the National Autistic Society and Meningitis Now. She also supports charities for the blind and visually impaired.
- Women and Girls: As a former Brownie, Sophie became president of Girlguiding UK in 2003 and is now its patron. She also works to promote women's rights and supports victims of violence in war zones.
- Agriculture: Sophie supports farming and food production. She is a patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations.
- Youth: She is a global ambassador for The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, which helps young people develop important life skills.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sophie volunteered by helping to prepare and deliver food to hospital staff. She also worked as a care volunteer at a vaccination center.
Titles and Styles
- 19 June 1999 – 10 March 2023: Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex
- 10 March 2019 – present: Her Royal Highness The Countess of Forfar (in Scotland)
- 10 March 2023 – present: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh
When Sophie married Prince Edward, she became Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex. In 2019, the Queen gave her husband the additional title Earl of Forfar for use in Scotland. On 10 March 2023, King Charles III made his brother the Duke of Edinburgh, a title previously held by their father, Prince Philip. At that time, Sophie became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh.
Images for kids
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Sophie attending the Royal Cheshire County Show in 2015
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In Honorary Air Commodore combat dress on a visit to Kandahar in 2011
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Sophie receiving the 2022 Hillary Rodham Clinton Award at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
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