Duchess Sophie and Edward's 'unusual' move that may be the secret to a successful marriage
It is said the well-deserved success to their marriage lies within Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie's approach to life.
Prince Edward, the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh have enjoyed a long-lasting and strong marriage, marked by mutual respect and commitment. Their journey together began with a fairy-tale wedding and has since grown into a partnership admired for its dedication to royal duties.
It has been claimed Edward and Sophie were "mature enough to know they were right for one another", a former BBC royal correspondent has claimed.
Speaking to OK! Magazine, Jennie Bond said: "Perhaps part of the secret of their successful marriage is that they spend five years in a relationship before tying the knot. And that was pretty unusual at the time."
Jennie also explained, at first hand, Sophie had witnessed the "breakdown of Charles and Diana's marriage", Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's divorce and Princess Anne's divorce and second marriage".
The couple are marking their 25th wedding anniversary today and are repeatedly being branded as the Royal Family's "secret weapons".
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Edward, 60, married Sophie Rhys-Jones, 59, in a low-key ceremony at St George’s Chapel, Windsor on 19 June, 1999. They started dating in 1993, maintaining a relatively low profile compared to other royal relationships. More prominent royal weddings, such as Prince William and Kate's took place at Westminster Abbey, due to its grandeur.
The couple announced their engagement on January 6, 1999. Prince Edward presented Sophie with a unique engagement ring featuring a two-carat oval diamond flanked by smaller heart-shaped diamonds, designed by Asprey and Garrard.
Jennie also told OK! Magazine: "Understated, unshowy and as down-to-earth as you can be when you are born into the royal family. That’s how Edward and Sophie are today… and it’s how they were 25 years ago on their relatively understated wedding day at Windsor."
A reported 200 million viewers tuned in to watch Prince Edward's royal wedding, where Sophie wore a beautiful Samantha Shaw dress and a breath-taking tiara borrowed from Queen Elizabeth's private collection.
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Last week, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attended D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations in Staffordshire and met veterans at the National Memorial Arboretum. The event aimed to honour veterans for their service during the D-Day landings 80 years ago.
Elsewhere, King Charles and Queen Camilla honoured D-Day veterans at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer.
In 2023, the couple completed more public engagements than Prince William and Kate, with Edward taking on 297 and Sophie doing 219 - and the royal duo stepped up to engagements while King Charles underwent cancer treatment and took a break from royal duties.
The Duchess of Edinburgh has been long praised as one of the Firm's "secret weapons" due to her close relationship with the other royals and her overall affection by the British public. Prince Edward has also been described Edward as being a "pivotal figure" within the Royal Family.
Speaking of the couple, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk: "At a time which is undoubtedly a very difficult one for the Royal Family, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, both hard workers who prefer a relatively low profile, are pivotal figures."
