Everything You Need to Know About Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

Ladies and gents, allow us to introduce Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh: a working member of the British royal family, sister-in-law to King Charles and an unofficial style queen. You may have spotted a few headlines about her most fashionable outfits, from stunning floral dresses to elegant blouses, but there's more to the royal than her memorable ensembles. She's a proud wife and mom who boasts a public relations background and supports several initiatives and charities. Plus, the royal has been quite vocal about adjusting to royal life after tying the knot with her husband, Prince Edward.

She told Tatler, "It took me a while to find my feet. The frustration was I had to reduce my expectations of what I could actually do. I couldn't turn up at a charity and go, right, I think you should be doing this, because that's what I was used to doing in my working life. I had to take a really big step back and go, OK, they want you to be the icing on the cake."

Fortunately, the duchess has since handled her royal position like a pro, attending about 200 engagements a year and serving as Patron of over 70 organizations. She is especially passionate about causes that relate to gender equality, supporting young people and the sight loss community. Keep reading for more details about the royal. 

FAST FACTS

• Official Royal Title: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh
• Hometown: Oxford, England
• Birthday: January 20, 1965
• Spouse: Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh
• Children: Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex
• Star Sign: Aquarius

Early Life

Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones (her full name before marriage) was born on January 20, 1965 and raised in Oxford, England with her older brother, David. Her mother, Mary Rhys-Jones, was a secretary and charity worker while her father, Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones, is a retired sales director.

Sophie trained as a secretary at West Kent College before launching a career in public relations. She worked at several firms, including Capital Radio, The Quentin Bell Organisation and MacLaurin Communications & Media, before starting her own PR agency, RJH. She co-ran the company with her business partner, Murray Harkin, for five years.

Introduction to the Royal Family 

In 1987, while she was still working at Capital Radio, Sophie first crossed paths with Edward, who was dating Sophie's friend at the time. The pair then met again in 1993, when Sophie spearheaded the publicity for the Prince Edward Summer Challenge charity event. And, as it turns out, Sophie decided to step in and help the royal after a celebrity guest backed out at the last minute. Sally Jones, a tennis champion who was also present for the shoot, told People, “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.”

Shortly after this, Sophie and Edward had their first date at Buckingham Palace. After six years of dating, Edward proposed to Rhys-Jones while they vacationed in the Bahamas in December 1998. The couple announced their engagement in January 1999.

Sophie and Edward tied the knot in June of that same year at St. George’s Chapel, and the ceremony was attended by 560 guests, including other members of the British royal family. The nuptials got broadcast worldwide with a staggering 200 million people tuning in, and after they tied the knot, each received new titles: the Earl and Countess of Wessex. When Sophie's husband advanced to the title of Duke of Edinburgh in 2023, her title changed to Duchess of Edinburgh.

Royal Endeavors

After leaving her public relations role, Sophie and her husband founded The Wessex Youth Trust in 1999, created to support initiatives that help children. The organization (also known as the Earl and Countess of Wessex Charitable Trust) remained in operation for 20 years before management was transferred to the Private Office of TRH The Earl and Countess of Wessex.

Her Royal Highness also began to focus on causes that support women and champion gender equality. For instance, she currently serves as Patron of Wellbeing of Women—a health charity that supports the health and well being of women, girls and babies, and she has been outspoken about the impact of menopause. In addition, the duchess focuses on charities related to people with liabilities and sight loss, according to the royal family’s official website. This latter cause hits pretty close to home because her daughter, Louise, was diagnosed with esotropia, a condition that affects her eyesight.

Personal Life

After they got married, Sophie and Prince Edward welcomed two children: James, Viscount Severn, 16, and Lady Louise Windsor, 20. Lady Louise, who was born prematurely, appeared as a bridesmaid at Prince William and Princess Catherine's wedding, and she has since made a few public appearances alongside the royal family. Meanwhile, James—the youngest grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth—keeps a much lower profile. It appears that neither intends to take on their royal titles, and Sophie told Tatler in 2020 that her goal is to make their lives as normal as possible.

I guess not everyone’s grandparents live in a castle, but where you are going is not the important part, or who they are. When they are with the queen, she is their grandmother.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

Before her introduction to the royal family, Sophie had a “couple of flings,” according to royal author Garth Gibbs. While working for a firm called Bladon Lines, she reportedly struck up a romance with an Australian ski instructor. Gibbs said, "She’s had a couple of flings, only a couple of serious love affairs. The Australian ski instructor was the most serious, I think. She followed him back to Aussie but then it cooled down."

Now, after several years of marriage, Sophie and her husband are stronger than ever. In fact, in March 2024, she paid an emotional tribute to her partner and said, "He is the best of fathers, the most loving of husbands and is still my best friend."

Personal Style

From breezy shirtdresses to striking winter coats, the duchess's style choices are as elegant as they are effortless. One of our personal favorites is her coral hibiscus gown by Zimmermann, which she wore at the Most Noble Order of the Garter Ceremony in June 2024. She completed the look with a matching fascinator, nude leather pumps and a Strathberry crescent bag. Another standout look? The sheer, long-sleeve gown she donned at the Ascot Racecourse that same year—courtesy of British designer Suzannah London.

Among her go-to fashion brands are Me+Em, Erdem, Alexander McQueen, Matelier and, of course, Suzannah London.

Royal fans took a special interest in Sophie's fashion looks in the wake of King Charles and Kate Middleton’s health updates in 2024, since she had to step up and carry out a more prominent role for the family. With this came an even bigger platform to showcase her unique and classic sense of style, so we can't help but keep tabs on her many gorgeous looks.

Net Worth

According to Celebrity Net Worth, the duchess is worth an estimated $10 million. Her combined net worth with her husband is likely even higher, because News Corp Australia reported in 2022 that the royal couple's combined net worth was around $17 million.

Details on the duchess's earnings haven't been revealed, but we do know that her husband inherited a share of the Sovereign Grant, which is now owned by King Charles, per i24 News. The couple's wealth comes primarily from their home, trust funds and valuable furnishings in Bagshot, where they currently reside.