To celebrate their silver wedding anniversary, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie released two new portraits.
The couple, who married on 19 June 1999 at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, have now been together for 25 years.
Photographed by Chris Jelf in the gardens of their Bagshot Park home in Surrey, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie radiated marital bliss.
In the photos, Edward is seen with his arms around Sophie’s waist, while she rests her hands affectionately on his.
The couple later shared a second portrait as they thanked well-wishers for their “many kind and lovely messages”.
The second shot showed the pair exchanging a loving glancing as they posed on the steps in their garden, amid blooms of white and pink flowers.
In a personal message on the royal family’s official social media accounts, Edward and Sophie wrote: “We are so grateful for the many kind and lovely messages we have received on our silver wedding anniversary.
“Wishing everyone who is celebrating their own anniversaries a special day too.” It was signed off with “Edward & Sophie”.
In the early 1990s, Prince Edward and Sophie, who was then a public relations professional, met and connected at a tennis event. After several years of dating, they announced their engagement in January 1999.
Sophie showcased her stunning Asprey and Garrard white gold ring, which is estimated to be worth £105,000. The ring features a two-carat central oval diamond flanked by two smaller heart-shaped diamonds.
Ahead of their nuptials in 1999, Edward said: “We manage to have a good laugh about things most of the time, and we happen to love each other, which is the most important thing of all.”
For their wedding, Prince Edward and Sophie tied the knot at Windsor Castle. The ceremony was notably free of ceremonial state or military involvement, and they opted for a relaxed dress code, with no hats required. The event was televised and reportedly watched by 200 million viewers worldwide.
Sophie wore a silk organza bridal gown adorned with 325,000 crystals and pearls, designed by Samantha Keswick. She also sported a tiara from the late Queen’s private jewelry collection, with her hair styled in an elegant low chignon and her makeup kept natural and dewy.
After their wedding, the couple welcomed two children: Lady Louise Windsor, born on 8 November 2003, and James, Earl of Wessex, born on 17 December 2007. The family currently resides in a £30 million mansion at Bagshot Park in Surrey. The property, sitting on 51 acres of land, reportedly has 120 rooms and is located just 11 miles from Windsor Castle. When the late Queen was at Windsor, the couple and their children often visited her for tea.
Their 25th wedding anniversary is a significant milestone, coming just three months after Edward’s 60th birthday. During a visit to Leeds, Sophie gave a heartfelt tribute to her husband, calling him “the best of fathers, the most loving of husbands” and “still my best friend.”
