Earl & Countess of Wessex and Lady Louise current events 8: March -September 2007

[Avalon]

Countess of Wessex marks hospital redevelopment

The Countess of Wessex was in the region today to officially mark a hospital's multi-million pound redevelopment.
The £21m scheme at Northallerton's Friarage Hospital, which was completed last summer, includes a refurbished maternity unit and a neonatal department and children's unit.
The countess, wearing a pillar box red suit and pearls, was greeted by flag-waving children from the Friarage Hospital Play Group.

[Claire]

Some News about Edward and Sophie.

ic Lancanshire: Prince meets Duke of Edinburgh youngsters
ic Lancanshire: Royal visits boosts
Daily Record: Piano on no
Harrogate Today: Disability Goup enjoys meeting with Countess
BBC News: Royal family go to Easter
BBC: Recreation Centre Revamp complete
Petersbrough Now: Prince to open adventure centre
Peterbrough Now: Royal visit on rail for 30th Aniversary
This is London: Easter bonnet fit for a Queen
Hello!: Chic Royal ladies parade Easter bonnets
The Royalist: No Easter parade for Royals

[iceflower]

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, pictured during a visit to the Tyne Cot Cemetery in Zonnebeke and the Passchendaele Memorial Museum 1917 with a delegation of the Saskatchewan Dragoons, a reserve unit of the Canadian army, Saturday 14 April 2007. BELGA PHOTO KURT DESPLENTER

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More pics here!

[corazon]

new edward and sophie photos from newscom
Newscom.com | Login
the photo of sophie with the baby is so so so sweet!

[contessa]

Soooooooooooo whose baby is Sophie carryng???????

[corazon]

Originally Posted by contessa

Soooooooooooo whose baby is Sophie carryng???????

very good question

[Claire]

Here is some news:

The first article is about Edward's visit to Israel in September. He will be the first royal to official visit the Holy land for the DOE Awards. Prince Philip was there for his mom's internment and Prince Charles was there for President Rabin's funeral.


JTA: British Royal to visit Israel
The Weston Mercury: Earl will unviel new Goblin logde
Kent News: Hospital centenary celebration to get royal seal of approval
Macclesfield Express: Volunteer Conference is a right royal affair

I think the baby's mom was one of the athletes that was posing for photos at the press gathering. Sophie appears to offer to hold him while they take the photos.

[HRH Kimetha]

After all the talk about Kate Middleton's middle-class family and it may have led to her breakup with William (always a possiblity that it did, though I don't really believe it), how is Sophie fairing in the family; and, did she have to go through an "orientation" and "learning" process before she got to marry Edward?

[Claire]

I think that you could possibly say that Edward and Sophie had a five year learning period. But it should be remembered that Edward has never really been one to go on about class. His friends at Gordonstoun were middle class and his friends at Cambridge the same. There was even jokes about him rubing shoulders with the lowly folk he was keeping company with in the theatre. Besides Ivar Mountbatten and friends of the family - the majority of Edward's friends are commoners.
Edward and Sophie dated since Oct/Nov 1993 and only married in 1997. It is possible that there was engagements as it is believed that the Queen asked Edward and Sophie to take their time after the divorces of her other children. What really should be noted is that Edward is the youngest child and that the chances of him becoming king are very little. The Queen and Buckingham Palace are thus more accomandating. Edward has also been known to politely till the courtiers to take a flying leap when they muddle in his life. He has also made it known to the Queen that if he was to choose between the Royal family and Sophie - he would pick Sophie.
I personally think that Edward found something in the Rhys-Jones that he didn't have in the Windsors. A sense of belonging maybe. Christopher, Mary and David really made him feel welcome and at home. They aren't social climbers and I came to the conclusion more that once that the Queen herself was quite envious of them.
How Sophie fits into the Royal family today is another story. Edward hid his relationship with her for almost months from the press and his family, as he thought they would ruin it. This time gave Sophie ample opportunity to learn the ropes from Edward and his staff who were only to happy to show her. Edward's friends helped out as well. But she didn't have to be anyone but herself. I recently spoke to a woman who had been with Sophie in school and had caught up with her recently. She laughed when she said that Sophie hadn't changed a bit, same sense of humour, same personality. She is the same old Sophie.
I have read that Camilla and Princess Micheal of Kent speak down to Sophie because her father was a tyre salesman, but the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh prefer her to all their daughter's in law. So I think it says more about them than about her.

The big difference I suppose is that Edward and Sophie noted that they wanted a marriage, not a fairy tale. And they were mature and honest enough to know the difference.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Claire

I have read that Camilla and Princess Micheal of Kent speak down to Sophie because her father was a tyre salesman..... ........So I think it says more about them than about her.

Alleged to, but the perennial question, where is the proof that either one of them 'look down' on Sophie, or that if they do, (which I doubt), it is because of her fathers job?

One must not forget that Sophie was in PR for years, so she knows how to please. More than anything, there were and are lower expectations of Edward and his wife. IMO

[misselle]

Since Edward is very unlikely to become King,I agree that there are lower expectations for the couple. And as for Camilla and Princess Michael of Kent looking down on Sophie because of her middle class background;I've read and heard interviews by royal-watcher James Whitaker(this was before the two married) where he stated that Sophie's background wasn't sufficient enough to marry Edward;how snobbish!

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by misselle

Since Edward is very unlikely to become King,I agree that there are lower expectations for the couple. And as for Camilla and Princess Michael of Kent looking down on Sophie because of her middle class background;I've read and heard interviews by royal-watcher James Whitaker(this was before the two married) where he stated that Sophie's background wasn't sufficient enough to marry Edward;how snobbish!

James I don't think he has managed to get anything right has he. He really is one of the lower class reporters. We have all seen pictures of Camilla and Sophie having a chat and a laugh.

Originally Posted by claire

Edward has also been known to politely till the courtiers to take a flying leap when they muddle in his life. He has also made it known to the Queen that if he was to choose between the Royal family and Sophie - he would pick Sophie

On what evidence have you based this statement? (asking nicely, with a genuine curiosity)

[Claire]

I actually have Andrew Morton saying exactly the same thing.
In 1998 it was nicely put to Edward that now would be the right time to marry Sophie, have a nice big wedding and generate some nice PR for the royal family. Edward refused, noting that his life was not a commerical.
In 2003 Edward noted to people at an engagement that he always somehow knew his life would be controlled by women. A man nearby laughed and remarked that with the Queen being his mother that was an inevitabilty. Edward laughted and noted no - Sophie and Louise controlled his life and piorities in life.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Claire

I actually have Andrew Morton saying exactly the same thing.
In 1998 it was nicely put to Edward that now would be the right time to marry Sophie, have a nice big wedding and generate some nice PR for the royal family. Edward refused, noting that his life was not a commerical.
In 2003 Edward noted to people at an engagement that he always somehow knew his life would be controlled by women. A man nearby laughed and remarked that with the Queen being his mother that was an inevitabilty. Edward laughted and noted no - Sophie and Louise controlled his life and piorities in life.

As we all know, Morton is not a reliable source, having had very little contact with anyone but Diana. I did a major search and could not find any article in which Edward made a 'choices' statement on or off the record. The trouble with the likes of Whitaker or Morton seems to be, IMO, they pass their own beliefs as 'having heard'. We saw with Anne and Andrew, there was no prerequisit for their marriages of noble families, just love. I am not too keen on Sophie, but I don't believe that anyone thought she was not good enough based on what her father did and I don't believe that Camilla looks down on her, as I said, we have all seen them together at various events, laughing and chatting.

As a very new father in 2003, Louise was released from hospital around November wasn't she, I would imagine that as with all new parents, the baby controlled his life!

[CasiraghiTrio]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

The trouble with the likes of Whitaker or Morton seems to be, IMO, they pass their own beliefs as 'having heard'. :

Geez, I thought Andrew Morton had fallen off the radar entirely. I haven't seen anything by him or heard or seen any of him since the Diana Tapes and all that came out in the initial months and years following her death.
I know he used to write for the Sunday Times, but I believe that was ages ago, and I never saw anything by him in recent years.

[scooter]

Originally Posted by CasiraghiTrio

Geez, I thought Andrew Morton had fallen off the radar entirely. I haven't seen anything by him or heard or seen any of him since the Diana Tapes and all that came out in the initial months and years following her death.
I know he used to write for the Sunday Times, but I believe that was ages ago, and I never saw anything by him in recent years.

Off topic,I know, but Morton is writing a book on Tom Cruise. Plenty to keep him busy and off the Royal radar!

[HRH Kimetha]

Originally Posted by Claire

I think that you could possibly say that Edward and Sophie had a five year learning period. But it should be remembered that Edward has never really been one to go on about class...

What a great answer. It makes me want to research a little more about the couple and their relationship. I did hear once, though, that Edward insisted on others, even friends, to address him as Sir. Perhaps it may have been just a rumour.