Duchess of Edinburgh: Family and Background

[Blog Real]

Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones was born at Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, on 20 January 1965. Her father, Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones (born 1931), is a retired sales director for an importer of industrial tyres and rubber goods. Her mother was Mary (née O'Sullivan; 1934–2005), a charity worker and secretary. Sophie has an elder brother, David, and was named after her father's sister, Helen, who died in a riding accident in 1960. Her godfather, actor Thane Bettany, was her father's stepbrother; both men spent their early life in SarawakBritish Protectorate.

Sophie descends from King Henry IV of England. She is related to the family of the Viscounts Molesworth by the descent of her paternal grandmother, Margaret Molesworth, from Robert Molesworth, 1st Viscount Molesworth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie...tess_of_Wessex

The Countess of Wessex's parents:

Christopher Rhys-Jones (father)
https://media.gettyimages.com/photos...9460?s=612x612

Mary O'Sullivan (mother):
https://c8.alamy.com/comp/G6JCRK/mar...sit-G6JCRK.jpg

David Rhys-Jones, brother of the Countess of Wessex:
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016...4243226513.jpg

A news about David's new career:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...L-PARLOUR.html

[Hallo girl]

Why should the career choices of a private citizen be published in a newspaper or a thread on this forum. Considering comments on this forum with regards who is or isn't a private citizen and not a member of the BRF I find this quite intrusive. Obviously my personal opinion.

[Claire]

Agreed - the Rhys Jones do not live their lives publicly. So they should not be on this thread.

[Countessmeout]

The Middletons who are commoners and private citizens have their own thread. Camilla's children who are private citizens and commoners have their own threads. The 'family of a royal' is common across the boards, not just in the British royal threads. You will find threads for the family of Letizia, Mathilde and so on.


The thread is so short because her father and brother live very quiet lives. The most news worthy member of her family, besides Sophie, would have been her step-Uncle and his son. But that's because their actors. Thane certainly made news (her dad's step brother and her godfather) before he died.

[Blog Real]

I created this topic because I was interested in learning more about Sophie's family. And I think it makes sense to exist this topic. There are also topics about the Middletos, Markles, Camilla family, Letizia, Mary, Mathilde, Máxima, etc.

[Tatiana Maria]

Originally Posted by Hallo girl

Why should the career choices of a private citizen be published in a newspaper or a thread on this forum.

Many UK public records, such as birth registrations, record citizens' occupations publicly. Career choices may be pertinent to the news which is being reported. For instance, stories about a royal engagement may mention the occupations of partners and in-laws from middle-class families as evidence that the historical pattern of British royals marrying royals or other aristocrats has changed.

[CyrilVladisla]

Christopher and Mary Rhys-Jones in Brenchley, Kent
http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-chr...106084024.html

[SirGyamfi1]

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

Many UK public records, such as birth registrations, record citizens' occupations publicly. Career choices may be pertinent to the news which is being reported. For instance, stories about a royal engagement may mention the occupations of partners and in-laws from middle-class families as evidence that the historical pattern of British royals marrying royals or other aristocrats has changed.

I don’t think it would be evidence of changes in royal marriages. The fact that a member of the BRF married a subject from the country is telling enough. Plus they haven’t always married aristocrats and royals.