Timeline of the relationship between Prince Edward and Dutchess Sophie

Of all the modern-day royal couples, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie have one of the most unique love stories. The duo’s path to happily ever after took years. The two met in 1987, when the prince was dating a friend of Sophie Rhys-Jones. They reconnected years later and began dating in 1993.

In the decades since, the Duke and Duchess have faced their share of ups and downs, from the birth of their two children to the death of Edward’s parents. As the youngest son of the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Edward is 14th in line to the throne. But since King Charles’ cancer diagnosis, the couple have taken on more responsibilities and public appearances.

From their first meeting to their nuptials in 1999, until today, here’s a comprehensive look at their rock-solid relationship.

1987: first meeting of Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie

Edward and Sophie first met in 1987, but it wasn’t exactly love at first sight. When they first crossed paths at Capital Radio – where the Duchess, then known as Sophie Rhys-Jones, worked – Edward was dating his friend. Of course, that was just the beginning of their fairytale love story, which would slowly but surely unfold over the next decade.

1993: They reconnect and start dating

Six years after they first met, Edward and Sophie met again at a charity event he organized. Soon after, the duo began dating and their relationship was made public by the end of the year.

In December of that year, Edward, protective of his new partner’s privacy, issued a statement to the press, writing: “I am taking the unusual step of writing to you directly in the hope of preventing your journalists and photographers from to destroy this part of my life that I have the right to consider private and, more importantly, Sophie’s life.

December 1998: Prince Edward proposes to Duchess Sophie

In December 1998, during a trip to the Bahamas, Edward popped the question to his then-girlfriend of five years. Her engagement ring featured a two-carat oval diamond set between two smaller stones.

January 1999: Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie announce their engagement

Edward and Sophie started 1999 on a happy note by sharing their exciting news with the public via a traditional royal photo shoot. In video footage shared by the Associated Press, Edward revealed: “I managed to take her completely by surprise. She had no idea what was going to happen, and that’s what I really wanted to do.” He continued: “I mean, the problem was that everyone was always speculating, which made it very difficult. Every time there was another round of speculation, I had to stay very quiet again .” Sophie agreed, telling reporters: “I was slightly stunned for a minute and then I realized I actually had to answer the question, so I said yes. I said, ‘Yes, yes.’ please’.'”

June 19, 1999: Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie marry

Nearly six months after announcing their engagement, Edward and Sophie tied the knot at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The bride wore a stunning silk organza gown – adorned with 325,000 crystals and pearls – designed by Samantha Keswick (née Shaw). Edward opted for a classic yet playful look consisting of a classic suit with pinstriped pants and, best of all, an animal print tie.

Despite the incredible fashion, it wasn’t a traditional extravagant royal wedding as there was no official ceremony or military involvement. No politicians were invited either. And although the nuptials were considered low-key by royal standards, more than 200 million people watched the couple’s wedding on television.

The new husband and wife duo won more than one new title that day, becoming the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

2002: They abandon work in the private sector and concentrate fully on royal duties

Before and during the early years of their marriage, the couple focused on their respective business ventures. Edward ran his own production company, Ardent Productions, while Sophie ran her public relations company, R-JH Public Relations. In 2002, they left their business roles to focus on their royal duties and supporting the Queen during her Golden Jubilee and beyond.

Since then, the couple has devoted their time to charitable works. Among other things, Edward oversees the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, founded by his father, which helps young people develop life skills and self-confidence. Sophie supports many causes, from gender equality to support for people with disabilities. Much of his work focuses on vision and avoidable blindness, having had first-hand experience of the problem when his daughter Louise was born with a rare eye disease, according to People.

November 8, 2003: Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie welcome their first child

Edward and Sophie became a family of three on November 8, 2003, when they welcomed their first child and only daughter, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, into the world. Unfortunately, Sophie had to have an emergency C-section following a placental abruption and Edward missed the delivery.

December 17, 2007: They welcome their second child

Just over four years after giving birth to Lady Louise, Edward and Sophie added a fourth member to the family, their son, James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor, Viscount Severn.

Despite their royal status, Edward and Sophie are committed to raising their children in a hardworking and down-to-earth manner. They decided not to give their children titles of prince or princess, although all children of the monarch’s heirs were eligible. “We try to raise them knowing that they will most likely have to work for a living… That’s why we made the decision not to use the titles HRH (Her Royal Highness),” Sophie said in an interview in 2020 with The temperature. “They have them and can decide to use them from the age of 18, but I think that’s very unlikely.” In a fitting move, Lady Louise spent the summer before heading off to university working in a garden centre.

March 10, 2019: The Queen grants new titles to the couple

On Edward’s 55th birthday, his mother, the Queen, granted him another title, that of Earl of Forfar. The title is named after a county in north-east Scotland and is to be used when the couple visits the country. They became Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar.

September 2022: They accompany their daughter to university

Louise Mountbatten-Windsor left home in the fall of 2022 to study English in St. Andrews, Scotland. She followed in her cousin’s footsteps: Prince William and Princess Catherine first met at school in 2001.

March 10, 2023: They become Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

To celebrate Edward’s 59th birthday, King Charles granted his brother the Duchy of Edinburgh. The position was last held by their father, Prince Phillip, and was granted upon his marriage to their mother in 1947. Along with the dukedom, Edward and Sophie, previously known as the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar, became Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Their son James inherited Edward’s previous title, becoming Earl of Wessex.

June 19, 2023: Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie return to their wedding venue on their 24th wedding anniversary

Edward and Sophie celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary by visiting their wedding venue alongside the now King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Princess Anne and the Prince and Princess of Wales at the service of Order of the Garter. Sophie looked just as elegant as she did on her wedding day, donning a floral-print Emilia Wickstead dress paired with a pink and white Philip Treacy fascinator.