Wessex, Sophie Helen (1965– )

Countess of Wessex, member of the British Royal Family. She married Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1999. She worked as a public relations executive until 2002.

She launched the R-H Public Relations firm in 1996 and handled high-profile clients such as OK! magazine before leaving in 2002 to focus on her royal duties. A daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, was born in 2003.

She was born in Oxford and grew up in Brenchley, Kent, where she attended Dulwich College Preparatory School, Kent College for Girls, and West Kent College. She trained as a secretary before working in the press department for London's Capital Radio popular music station. She later joined MacLaurin Communications & Media before launching her own firm with business partner Murray Harkin. After meeting Edward at a charity tennis event in 1993, the couple were engaged in 1999 and married the same year at Windsor Castle. Facing criticism for using her title and social standing to promote her business, she and Edward both gave up their business interests in 2002.