Her father, Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones (born 1931), is a retired sales director for an importer of industrial tyres and rubber goods. Adam Barrett-James, 15, who is in fifth form, recalled: "She asked who was playing, and I told her it was the computer playing the music. The daughter of a bank manager, she had an "ordinary" background and author Andrew Morton claimed she had misgivings about her daughter marrying a royal. She went on to co-found her own Public Relations company which she ran before becoming a full-time working royal in 2002. His business failure came six years after the Countesss former PR company, RJH Public Relations, also folded. Yesterday royal commentator Judy Wade said: "She and Sophie had a close relationship. "And I know that that wouldn't be happening without the care and attention of the nurses out in general surgeries. Sophie Wessex tells NHS conference her father had Covid-19 vaccine 'We are still a family no matter what': The Earl and Countess of Wessex It also offers woollen caskets with organic cotton interior lining made by Hainsworth & Sons, who hold a Royal Warrant. The monarch chatted and shook hands with Sophie's dad, who was present at the engagement as a former pupil of the school. The Countess of Wessex has opened up about grief following the death of her mother, Mary Rhys-Jones, back in 2005. Princess Eugenie, Prince Andrew and more, 13 lavish royal living rooms: Meghan Markle, Zara Tindall, King Charles and more, Sarah Ferguson hints the home she shares with ex Prince Andrew is haunted by the Queen. Queen gifted favourite Sophie Countess of Wessex wedding tiara. She has been described by her son as the Royal Familys secret weapon and may have praised how she has taken to royal life. Meeting her was a moment I will never forget." See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Kate Middleton pregnant: Will we see Royal Baby 4 as odds cut? READ MORE:Lady Louise Windsor: Sophie's popularity 'spilling onto daughter'. The Good Funeral guide says: They are proud of their presence, wanting to offer the same excellent service to everybody, dukes and dustmen.. Sophie Wessex's parents at the home in 1999 Now, the Countess and Earl live at Bagshot Park with their two children James Viscount Severn and Lady Louise. They are understood to have stepped up royal duties in the wake of Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys withdrawal. She was born in Oxford and attended a private day school for girls after which she attended secretarial college. She was presented with a posy by a young girl called Alice, a year three child from Hazlegrove Primary School. It was really scary!" Will Lady Louise now become a Princess after parents' title change? All structured data from the main, Property, Lexeme, and EntitySchema namespaces is available under the Creative Commons CC0 License; text in the other namespaces is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. Sophie Wessex: Why son James, Viscount Severn hasn't been seen since Queen's death, James recently became the new Earl of Wessex, Edward and Sophie are the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Wessexes were seen skiing, but son James, Viscount Severn wasn't with them, The couple have been happily married since 1999, Prince Edward and Sophie are now the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Earl and Countess of Wessex reside at Bagshot Park in Surrey, Royal family members pictured for first time after Queen's death - all the photos, Why William & Harry's return to Balmoral was so painful for royal brothers, Kate's sweet words about Prince William and Harry's show of unity, Kate reveals how Prince Louis consoled her following the Queen's death, The Queen's funeral: Everything you need to know about royal guests, date, location and more, Touching moment Prince William helps Queen Consort during King Charles III's proclamation, Queen Elizabeth II's loving message to son Charles revealed, Why Sophie and Edward's son James will NOT inherit Duke of Edinburgh title. Sophie Wessex's older brother is learning his trade at the family firm C. Waterhouse & Sons in Burwash. She worked as a secretary and also was involved in charitable work. The Court Circular read: "The Countess of Wessex, Patron, Brendoncare Foundation, this afternoon attended a Havant Club Meeting via video link.". Speaking to nurses from her home in Surrey, Sophie said: "Thank you so much to all of you, it doesn't matter which part of the system you are working in. MORE: Prince Edward and Sophie react to Prince Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview, Speaking to The Telegraph, Sophie said: "She's loved it, it's really pushed her into doing things that shes had to schedule into her routine. I played some Chopin. Sophie Wessex posts rare personal statement about family health Prices are competitive and start at 2,000 for an affordable send-off. Express. Compared to other royals, the Wessexes lead a relatively quiet life in Berkshire. The Countess of Wessex, 56, and her husband Prince Edward, 57, live just 11 miles. Sophie, who is 14 weeks pregnant with her second child, cleared her private diary recently to be with her mother. "Whether you are general practitioner nurses or whether you are healthcare assistants, we all know how much this whole pandemic has put on you. READ MORE:Sophie Wessex nickname: How royal earned this surprising nickname. When she was younger, Mary reportedly once danced with Prince Philip at a ball. Sophie, 56, was flanked by her children Lady Louise Windsor, 17, and . "It's really important that everyone gets their vaccine.". On January 9, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have today received Covid-19 vaccinations.". Sophie is said to be a favourite of the Queen and is praised for her no-fuss approach to royal duties. Will Lady Louise now become a Princess after parents' title change? A Buckingham Palace aide said: "The countess was very close to her mother and this is a very sad time. Make sure you never miss a ROYAL story! This decision marked a huge break with royal protocol, with Buckingham Palace rarely commenting on personal matters. In a previous interview, Sophie said she and Edward have raised their children as normal as they could within the royal setting. I told her that I have two children at the school and she also asked about the percussion rooms. Prince Edward & Sophie Wessex's insane 30m home they'll never give up