Sophie Rhys-Jones
Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones, born 20 January 1965 in Oxford, married Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, in 1999 and became Countess of Wessex. She is the daughter-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II.
Early life and education
Sophie Rhys-Jones is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Rhys-Jones. Together with her parents and older brother David she moved to Kent where she was raised and educated.
After Dulwich College Preparatory School in Cranbrook she moved on to Kent College School for Girls in Pembury before entering West Kent College. At school she was a keen sports woman, enjoying netball, hockey, athletics, gymnastics and swimming. She also loved ballet and amateur dramatics.
After school she began her career in public relations.
Career
After working for a number of firms in the field of public relations, sh e founded her own PR agency, RJH Public Relations, together with a business partner in 1996. Three years after her marriage to Prince Edward she withdrew from work in order to support her husband and to represent her own charities.
Family
Sophie and Edward have two children. Their daughter Lady Louise Windsor was born prematurely on the 8 November 2003 and their son James Viscount Severn on 17 December 2007. In 2001 Sophie had a life-threatening ectopic pregnagncy.