The Countess of Wessex’s 49th Birthday

The Countess of Wessex, Sophie, celebrated her 49th birthday on January 20.

Sophie Rhys Jones was born on 20 January 1965 in Oxford, England. She is the second child and first daughter of Christopher Bournes Rhys Jones and his wife, Mary O’Sullivan. Sophie has an elder brother, David.

She grew up in Brenchley, Kent, in England and attended Dulwich Preparatory School and Kent College. She later trained to be a secretary at West Kent College in Tonbridge. Her first job was working in PR (Public Relations), where she worked for a variety of businesses, including Capital Radio. She has also worked as a ski representative in Switzerland.

Sophie and Prince Edward met at a charity event in 1993 and married on 19 June 1999 at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, England. Upon their wedding, The Queen granted Edward the title Earl of Wessex, making Sophie The Countess of Wessex. The couple have two children; Lady Louise Windsor (born in 2003) and James, Viscount Severn (born 2007). Louise and James could have been a Princess and Prince, but prior to their parents wishes, they were given the titles that children of “ordinary” (non-royal) Earls would receive.

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Birthday, The Countess of Wessex.