Prince Edward And Sophie: What Makes Their Marriage Unique Among Royal Couples

Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. While the couple might not be as visible as other royals, their relationship and lifestyle are definitely unique compared to that of Edward’s siblings.

This Is Their First Marriage

One unique element to Prince Edward and Sophie’s marriage is that it is both their first. Edward has never been married before he wed Sophie, and the Countess likewise never had any husband before marrying the prince.

They Did Not Divorce

For an institution steeped in tradition, members of the royal family are surprisingly prone to the modern-day phenomenon called divorce. For instance, Prince Charles famously divorced Princess Diana and eventually married Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who also divorced her first husband, Andrew Parker Bowles.

Edward’s older sister, Princess Anne, likewise divorced her first husband, Mark Phillips, before marrying Timothy Laurence. His older brother, Prince Andrew, also divorced Sarah Ferguson, though there are recent talks that the couple might be getting back together.

This makes Prince Edward the sole sibling who has not experienced divorce. After two decades of marriage, it’s probably safe to conclude that his marriage to Sophie has stood the test of time and is as solid as it can be.

They Are Low Key And Private

Royal family fans often wonder why they seldom hear about Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex. Some people believe that it’s because he prefers a low-key lifestyle as he values his privacy.

Sophie is apparently of the same temperament. A Daily Mail article once dubbed the Countess of Wessex as the “unsung hero of the Royal Family” who “works tirelessly without any pomp and ceremony.”

Unlike other female royals, Sophie is seen as relatively modern when it comes to doing her royal duties. “Sophie does her own hair, sometimes drives herself to official engagements, and even makes her own pre-engagement notes without the traditional help of a lady-in-waiting,” the publication noted.

Their Wedding Was Less Formal

This low-key approach was right there at the very start of their marriage. Their wedding in 1999, while certainly fabulous by common standards, was considered a bit informal by royal standards. The Irish Times described it as having “just a dash of traditional pageantry, some faintly amusing straining after informality and a few human touches.”

It was the couple’s wish to avoid pomp and ceremony as much as possible. They wanted “informal, family affair and so there was relatively little pomp, military procession and pageantry and, as the bride had asked, its was ‘no hats please’ for the ladies and morning suits (preferably not grey) for the men, the relaxed dress code adding to the unstuffy atmosphere of what will surely be the last British royal wedding of the 20th century,” the publication added.