S Poddar
The Countess of Wessex was initially offered the title now given to Kate Middleton, but it was actually her husband who intervened in the very unexpected decision. Back in 1999, Sophie was created Countess of Wessex on her wedding day to Prince Edward, which surprised many people who had anticipated a more traditional Dukedom for the youngest son of the Queen. The choice of titles was, however, a personal choice and a reflection of Prince Edward’s interests; it did not signify any break with royal tradition.
Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones met for the first time at a charity event at the Queen’s Tennis Club in London. Their relationship had spanned several years, with the date for their engagement finally being announced on 6 January 1999. Some time before they were married, it was declared by Buckingham Palace that the couple would be known as Earl and Countess of Wessex—the title last used in the 11th century. As Dukedoms were customarily bestowed upon the Queen’s sons, this was a curious decision, certainly not adhering to tradition.
It turned out that, at one time, Prince Edward was offered the title Duke of Cambridge, which is currently borne by Prince William and Kate Middleton since their marriage in 2011. Fast forward, surprisingly, Edward refused the offer. His reason? He was smitten with the title “Wessex” after seeing the film Shakespeare in Love, in which a character named Lord Wessex caught his fancy. It is reported that Edward requested the Queen to create him under this specific title because he had a passion for arts and theatre.
It was reportedly revealed by a royal insider to The Telegraph in 2010 that Edward just liked the sound of “Wessex” and asked the Queen if he might use that title instead. Edward was granted the title; the title Duke of Cambridge was kept in reserve for another royal couple. Therefore, this decision set him apart from his brothers and nephews, all being Dukes.
Years later, following the death of their father Prince Philip and his elder brother’s accession as King Charles III, Prince Edward was finally created Duke of Edinburgh, thereby fulfilling a long-standing intention of the Royal Family. Indeed, the late Queen and Prince Philip had always intended for the title to be passed down to Edward, a wish finally carried out by King Charles.
The private thoughts on that historic day from Sophie herself were quite understandably genuine. Talking to The Telegraph, she reveals that Prince Philip had gotten straight to the point of his offer to her and Edward. “We sat there slightly stunned. He literally came straight in and said, ‘Right. I’d like it very much if you would consider that’,” Sophie remembered.
Although Edward was eventually given the Dukedom of Edinburgh, it had been on the understanding that the title would not be passed down to his son, James. This move was in line with King Charles’s vision for a slimmed-down monarchy where titles would not automatically be passed down in the line but granted at the discretion of the reigning monarch.
The dukedom itself has a varied history, last held by the late Queen Elizabeth II from her marriage to Prince Philip in 1947 until she ascended to the throne in 1952. When Prince Charles became King, the title merged with the Crown, making it available for re-granting. Of course, as far as the title’s future was concerned, there were always doubts, but Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip did explicitly make known their desire for Edward and Sophie to inherit the title.
The story of how Sophie Wessex came to hold her title is not just about royal protocols; it also boiled down to personal preference and different personalities within the Royal Family. It was representative of Prince Edward’s very different approach to royal duty and his great love for the arts, together with the close relationship he and his wife, Sophie, had built up over the years with the late Queen and Prince Philip
