Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex stand as a paragon of royal marital success in the midst of a sea of failed Windsor unions.
The youngest son of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s wed PR professional Sophie Rhys-Jones in June 1999 and since then the pair have enjoyed a remarkably loving and controversy-free relationship that has seen them welcome two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
The Earl of Wessex’ personal life stands in marked contrast to his siblings Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Anne, Princess Royal, who all saw their first marriages end in divorce.
Express.co.uk‘s body language expert Judi James recently assessed Edward and Sophie’s long standing romance to figure out the key to its longevity.
Ms James claimed Sophie is the “ideal partner” for the Prince, integrating into the royal fold with ease in an “unfussy way”.
“[The Countess] was a perfect complement for her husband’s trait of apparently taking himself a little too seriously,” she said.
Ms James also noted the irony that of all the Queen’s children, Prince Edward was the one least expected to form a strong, stable marriage – he is now tenth in line to the throne.
Despite her relatively normal childhood in Oxford, Sophie is herself descended from King Henry IV of England which may have helped her assimilation into the House of Windsor.
She is also said to be a favourite of the Queen from the first time they met.
