Who Is Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh? Everything You Need to Know About King Charles’s Sister-in-Law

Sophie is the wife of Prince Edward, who also happens to be the Duke of Edinburgh, a title he inherited following the death of his father Prince Philip in 2021. (The title was handed over to Edward by King Charles in 2023 for his 59th birthday, a poignant occasion given their father held that role for more than 70 years.) By association, this appointment by the king led Sophie to become the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones (her full name, pre-marriage) was born on January 20, 1965 and raised in Oxford, England by her parents. Her mother, Mary Rhys-Jones, was a secretary and charity worker, while her father, Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones, was a sales director. She trained as a secretary at West Kent College before working as a publicist and eventually opening her own PR agency—called RJH—which she co-ran for five years.

The royal pair actually first connected in 1987, while she was working at Capital Radio and had yet to launch her own agency. At the time, Edward was dating Sophie’s friend. In 1993, they again crossed paths when Sophie handled the publicity for the prince’s Real Tennis Challenge charity event. As the story goes, when one of the celebrity guests had to back out last minute, Sophie stepped in and posed for pics with the royal. According to People, who spoke with Sally Jones, a tennis champion who was present for the shoot, “Nobody knew that there was an attraction between them that day. But Edward always had an eye for a bright girl—and Sophie is bright, sparky and fun.” (Sophie and Edward’s first date took place at Buckingham Palace shortly after.)

After Edward proposed to Sophie while on vacation in the Bahamas in December 1998, and the pair announced their engagement in January 1999, Sophie and Edward tied the knot in June that same year at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. (Ahem, this is the same venue that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chose for their big day in 2018.)

In their engagement interview, Edward shared the difficulty that came with pulling off the proposal: “I managed to take her completely by surprise. She had no idea that it was coming, which is what I really wanted to do.”

Sophie added: “I was slightly stunned for a minute and then I realized I should actually answer the question, so then I said, yes. I said, ‘Yes, please.’”

When it came to their wedding, one detail that was unique—the couple requested that their nuptials not be a state occasion, which meant the 560 guests in attendance were largely family and friends. (It was still broadcast worldwide with a whopping 200 million people tuning in.) Upon their marriage, the pair received new titles, the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

In November 2003, Sophie and Edward welcomed their first-born child—a girl!—Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor. A month ahead of her due date, Sophie experienced a placental abruption and had to have an emergency C-section. (Edward was traveling at the time, which meant he had to miss the birth.)

In December 2007, Sophie became a mom for a second time with the arrival of her son, James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor. James’s carried the title of Viscount Severn at birth, but became the Earl of Wessex in March 2023 after his father assumed his Duke of Edinburgh title. (Another unique detail about Sophie’s kids: James actually comes before Louise in the line of succession since they were both born before the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, which changed the system so that birth order, regardless of gender, determines the line of succession going forward.)

Very close, actually. The Duchess of Edinburgh even had a special nickname for her mother-in-law: “Mama.”

“Mama, when I have returned from my travels, I have been so proud to share with you the work I have witnessed being carried out under the umbrella of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust and the care of so many people so hard to save and cure sight,” Sophie said during a speech.

In fact, since the Queen’s passing, Sophie has made her role as the family’s rock quite clear, enjoying an affable relationship with her nephew Prince William and his wife, Kate, in addition to stepping in for a number of high-profile occasions—such as the Entente Cordiale at Buckingham Palace—on behalf of the king.

Having left her public relations role long ago to support her charitable work for the monarchy full-time, Sophie is passionate about a number of causes (and carries quite a range of royal patronages, too). Most near and dear to her heart, she focuses on charities related to sight loss (Louise’s premature birth led her to be diagnosed with a condition called esotropia, which affects her eyesight) as well as gender equality, helping people with disabilities, supporting those affected by gender violence in conflict and many more, according the Royal Family’s website.

Like we said, in the wake of King Charles and Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnoses—not to mention Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leaving their official roles as working royals behind—Sophie has had to step up and carry a more prominent role for the family. This has put her style front and center simultaneously, which means whether she’s wearing a cornflower blue coat or a simple shirtdress, Sophie is renowned for her easy glamour and accessibility. Just like with Kate and Meghan, the world can’t wait to see what she wears next.