How Prince Edward Had ‘Cold Feet’ And Was ‘Precariously Close To Leaving’ Sophie

Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones — better known as Sophie, the Countess of Wessex — has been married to the Earl of Wessex Prince Edward since 1999. Their 20 years of marriage bore them 2 children, 15-year-old Lady Louise Windsor and 11-year-old James, Viscount Severn.

The 11th in line to the throne and his wife have maintained a very good and excessively low-profile relationship. However, Edward’s biography claims that their union had not always been an assured thing and that they almost separated before even considering marriage.

In royal author Ingrid Seward’s 1995 book entitled “Prince Edward,” she revealed that the prince almost split up with Sophie because of “cold feet.” Edward met Sophie in 1987 while dating one of her friends and met her again at a tennis charity event in 1993. They started to date after the said event.

Almost a year after starting their relationship, Edward had gotten “precariously close” to leaving her. Sophie was a commoner prior to marrying the prince, and she struggled with the difficulties of living the royal life. The speed of their relationship, as well as the constant fights they had because of the overwhelming pressure, had Edward looking for an exit.

“Like all couples there were moments when the effort of adjusting led to rows and disagreements and, in the summer of 1994, they came precariously close to parting,” wrote Seward. “Edward became what one friend described as ‘unnerved’ by the speed which the affair was developing.”

The countess to be didn’t want to lose their relationship and fought hard against the tide of rumors concerning their issues and predicted breakup. “But if Edward was wracked by indecision (a not-uncommon problem amongst male members of his family) Sophie remained coolly determined,” the author continued.

“She was not prepared to let the relationship flounder,” Seward added. “When rumours of the rift became public she dismissed them as ‘rubbish.’ She was being elastic with the truth, but it did give her the breathing space she needed to get her relationship back on track again.”

Her hard work paid off, and by December of that year, their lives and relationship got back on track. The prince announced their engagement five years later, and the two married at St George’s Chapel in Windsor the same year.