Happy Silver Wedding Anniversary to the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh! Four Queens, a King, and the Heirs of Norway, Spain and Jordan were among the Royal Guests and Relatives who joined the British Royal Family to celebrate the Wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones at Windsor Castle on this day in 1999, 25 years ago!
Prince Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones by the Bishop of Norwich in a forty-five minute ceremony at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
Sophie arrived with her father Christopher Rhys-Jones in a Rolls-Royce owned by the Queen, and he walked her down the aisle while a fanfare by the Royal Marines was being played. Peter Nott, the Bishop of Norwich, performed the ceremony. Unlike previous royal weddings, like that of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Sophie chose to say the word “obey” in her vow “to love, cherish and obey”, much as her second eldest sister-in-law the Duchess of York had. The couple said their respective vows properly, though some onlookers noted Edward had a little difficulty placing the wedding ring on Sophie’s finger.
Following the Wedding, the new Earl and Countess of Wessex rode in an open, horse-drawn carriage to the Reception in the Waterloo Chamber and the Grand Reception Room at Windsor Castle, ahead of a Buffet Supper in St George’s Hall.
After the marriage ceremony, the guests were gathered at the Waterloo Chamber and the Grand Reception Room, where they were served canapés. A buffet-style dinner was later served at the George’s Hall. The couple’s 10-foot-tall chocolate cake was made by Linda Fripp and adorned with daffodil and tennis rackets. The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, the London Mozart Players and the band of the Royal Marines were in charge of providing the music for the reception ceremony. Geoffrey Shakerley photographed the wedding of Edward and Sophie.
The new Countess of Wessex wore a hand-dyed ivory silk organza gown by Samantha Shaw with a Diamond Tiara created from leftover elements of Queen Victoria’s Regal Circlet and a Black and White Pearl Suite designed by the groom.
Queen Elizabeth II (wearing her Williamson Pink Diamond Brooch) and Duke of Edinburgh
Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother (in the Greville Diamond Peardrop Earrings and her Sapphire Brooch)
The Prince of Wales and Duke of York
The Princess Royal (wearing Princess Anne’s Diamond Bow Brooch) and Timothy Laurence
Prince William and Prince Harry
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie of York
Peter Phillips and Zara Phillips
The Earl of Snowdon
Prince George Wilhelm of Hanover (uncle)
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei with Queen Saleha and Pengiran Isteri Mariam
Queen Anne-Marie of Greece (third cousin)
The Prince of Asturias (second cousin)
Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (third cousin)
Crown Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath of Jordan
Prince Joachim (third cousin) and Princess Alexandra of Denmark
Prince Guillaume (third cousin) and Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg (wearing a Diamond Rivière)
Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark and Princess Rahma bint Hassan of Jordan
The Count and Princess Irina, Countess of Schönburg-Glauchau (first cousin once removed)
Hereditary Prince Philipp and Princess Xenia of Hohenlohe-Langenburg with Count Cyril and Countess Cécile de Commarque (first cousins once removed)
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (wearing Queen Mary’s 11-row Pearl Choker) with Lady Davina and Lady Rose Windsor
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and the Duchess of Kent
Princess Alexandra of Kent (wearing her Diamond Choker) and Sir Angus Ogilvy
Prince and Princess Michael of Kent (in her Diamond Circle Earrings and Princess Marina’s Cartier Flower Brooch)
Lord Frederik Windsor and Lady Gabriella Kingston
