British Royal Wedding

Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones announced their engagement in the gardens of St James Palace on January 6th, 1999, following a five year courtship and plenty of speculation over whether and when the couple would marry. The prince is reported to have said that the proposal came as a complete surprise to Sophie, which was his intention. Sophie described her reaction this way:

“I was slightly stunned for a minute and then I finally realized I should actually answer the question, so I said ‘Yes;’ I said ‘Yes please.’”

Sophie was presented with a delicate three diamond engagement ring. The couple were married on Saturday 19th June, 1999. The ceremony took place at 5pm in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.

This was a departure from the usual tradition of royals marrying in either Westminster Abbey, or St Paul’s Cathedral, and reflected the couples’ desire to have a more low-key ceremony. In keeping with the more relaxed theme, and unlike the ceremonies of his brothers, Prince Edward did not wear military dress, female guests were asked to not wear hats or ball gowns and men were asked to wear white.

Following the traditional ceremony, a reception was held for 550 guests, mainly family and friends, in the State Apartments of Windsor Castle. Notably, Prince Andrew’s ex-wife, the Duchess of York, was not invited.

Following the reception, the couple honeymooned at Birkhall Lodge on the Queen’s Balmoral Estate in the Scottish Highlands for nine days. The Earl and Countess of Wessex today reside at Bagshot Park in Surrey and have two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.

Video: The Bridal Procession of Sophie Rhys-Jones on the day of her marriage to HRH Prince Edward at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor.