Tag: Sophie Wessex

Inside Prince Edward’s 120-room mansion where he lives with wife Sophie Wessex

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WITH a brother for king, you can imagine that Prince Edward doesn’t have a tiny home to live in with his family.

King Charles’ youngest brother resides at the country estate of Bagshot Park in Surrey, which has a staggering 120 rooms and is worth £30million.

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The property is rumoured to have 120 rooms and stretches across 51 acresCredit: Alamy

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Prince Edward lives at Bagshot Park with his wife Sophie and their two kidsCredit: Rex

Prince Edward lives in the sprawling mansion with wife, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and their two kids, Lady Louise Windsor, when she’s not at university, and James, Earl of Wessex.

The late Queen’s youngest son recently extended the lease of Bagshot Park, for another 150 years, so it looks like they won’t be moving anytime soon.

The family has lived in the palatial dwelling since 1999, the same year that the royal couple tied the knot.

And thanks to a number of TV appearances over the years, royal fans have been able to get a sneak peek inside the stunning home and grounds.

The history

The Grade II-listed building has a whopping 120 rooms and boasts 51 acres of beautiful countryside.

The surrounding grounds sit within the Windsor Great Park – located around 30 miles from London – and they house a private lake.

There are also multiple stables, which is handy for Lady Louise, who not only loves horse-riding, like the late Queen, but also enjoys carriage-driving.

In fact, the late Prince Philip left his beloved ponies and carriage to granddaughter after having taught her how to drive them before his death.

There are various different gardens, pathed walkways and an extensive driveway leading to the front of the house.

The home has belonged to the royal family for more than 200 years, and was originally built for King Charles I in 1609.

It initially stood as a series of small lodges, which were later demolished in 1877.

The house was then rebuilt in 1879 for Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn.

The grounds were leased to the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth in 1998 for 50 years, although he has since extended it, at a rumoured cost of £5million.

It is currently owned by the reigning monarch, King Charles, and will be passed down throughout the family.

The main Mansion House has undergone various renovations and extensions, including an extensive re-design before Prince Edward and Sophie moved in.

It’s estimated that if the royal home ever made it onto the open market, it would be worth almost £30 million.

A family home

Prince Edward and Sophie currently live in the Mansion House with their two kids, however, Lady Louise spends little time at home as she’s currently studying at the University of St Andrews in Edinburgh.

Meanwhile, Prince William and Kate Middleton live nearby at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, Berkshire, with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Sophie has often fondly spoken about the home she shares with her family.

In a previous interview, she praised how close their home was to Windsor Castle – a favoured home of the late Queen Elizabeth.

Speaking with Sky News, she said: “We’re a lot more fortunate because we live so close to the Queen, so when she spends a lot of time at Windsor on the weekends, our children are more fortunate because they can go over and have tea with her on a regular basis.”

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Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince Edward at a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth IICredit: Rex

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Prince Edward, Lady Louise and James Viscount Severn at Queen Elizabeth’s Birthday ParadeCredit: Getty

On the inside

Like most royal couples, Edward and Sophie have kept the interior of their home private.

But thanks to numerous televised interviews in recent years, royal fans have been able to catch a glimpse inside the royal protperty.

In a recent conversation with Naga Munchetty for the BBC, Sophie welcomed the newsreader into one of their living rooms.

It had cream-panelled walls, a sage green carpet and a lavish marble fireplace. The room was also furnished with green striped chairs and polished wooden furniture.

In another conversation with the Thames Valley Air Ambulance during the Covid-19 pandemic, Sophie appeared to be sitting in the kitchen.

Behind her was a navy-blue cupboard with glass panels, revealing various china tea sets.

For another on home-schooling, Sophie sat ahead of intricately carved wooden doors.

Prince Edward has also helped add to the picture, revealing what may be his office or study, fitted with an expansive wooden bookcase.

A Private Space

Unfortunately, while some royal residences like Windsor Castle and Sandringham are open to the public, Bagshot Park is not.

However glimpses of the residence, entrance drive and lodge are visible from nearby roads.

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The expansive grounds are said to hold a private lake and multiple stablesCredit: Alamy

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The pair are clearly fond of a wooden design, with carved doors throughout their homeCredit: YouTube

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Prince Edward’s office has a vast bookcase and wooden featuresCredit: YouTube

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Sophie Donovan

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January 11, 2024
Why Prince Edward’s kids do not have official prince and princess titles

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PRINCE EDWARD is perhaps the most low-key of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s children.

The brother of King Charles and his wife Sophie Wessex, Duchess of Edinburgh, largely stay out of the spotlight and, unlike some of their cousins, the couple’s children do not hold prince and princess titles.

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Prince Edward and his wife Sophie decided that their children will not inherit royal titlesCredit: Getty

Who are Prince Edward’s children?

Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones share two children together.

Their first, Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor, was born on November 8, 2003.

Her younger brother James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor was then born on December 17, 2007.

Both siblings were both born at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey.

READ MORE ON PRINCE EDWARD

Louise’s godparents are Lady Sarah Chatto, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Lady Alexandra Etherington, Francesca Schwarzenbach and Rupert Elliott.

In 2011, at age seven, Louise was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince William and Kate.

She went to St George’s School, Windsor Castle before moving to St Mary’s School Ascot in 2017.

Lady Louise then started studying English at the University of St Andrews in September 2022.

James was baptised in 2008 in the Private Chapel of Windsor Castle and his godparents are Alastair Bruce of Crionaich, Duncan Bullivant, Thomas Hill, Denise Poulton and Jeanye Irwin.

He attended Eagle House School – a prep school near Sandhurst in Berkshire.

Louise and James accompanied their parents on a trip to South Africa in April 2015, their first overseas engagement.

The family’s official London residence is based at Buckingham Palace. but they also live in Bagshot Park in Surrey.

Why do Prince Edward’s children not have official prince and princess titles?

The late Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh had eight grandchildren.

As well as Louise and James, they were grandparents to Peter and Zara Phillips, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Princes William and Harry.

Not all were given hereditary titles and, upon his wedding to Sophie, Prince Edward agreed with his mother that his kids would be deemed as children of an Earl, instead of being called His or Her Royal Highness.

Princess Anne‘s children, Zara and Peter, also don’t have royal titles but Louise and James are the Queen’s first male-line descendants not to have them.

They are also the first in the family to be allowed the proper use of the Mountbatten-Windsor family name.

Lady Louise is known as Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, instead of HRH Princess Louise of Wessex.

James, meanwhile, uses his father’s subsidiary title of Earl of Wessex as a courtesy and is not HRH Prince James of Wessex.

Sophie, who married Prince Edward in 1999, has said her children will not work in an official capacity for the Royal Family when they turn 18.

She told The Sunday Times in 2020: “We try to bring them up with the understanding that they are very likely to have to work for a living.

“Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles.

“They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but it’s highly unlikely.”

Your Prince Edward questions answered

Are Prince Edward’s children in line to the throne?

Louise is 16th in the line of succession to the British throne, while James is 15th in line to the throne.

Their father, the Queen’s youngest child, is 14th in line as of November 2023.

The rules of royal succession have changed significantly since 2011, when leaders of 16 British Commonwealth countries (including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Jamaica) voted to alter the centuries-old tradition to include daughters as well as sons.

Previously, daughters could only inherit the throne if there were no living sons.

The new rule only takes into account children born after 2011, meaning James, born in 2007, is ahead of his older sister, Louise, born in 2003.

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Imogen Braddick

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November 22, 2023
Young pictures of the Queen’s son Prince Edward growing up

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PRINCE Edward is the youngest child of the Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

Here we take a look back at Prince Edward throughout the years from his childhood to now.

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The late Queen’s son Prince Edward sits 14th in line to the throne as of November 2023Credit: Getty

The Prince married Sophie Rhys-Jones, Duchess of Edinburgh, in 1999.

Together, they are parents to two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James Viscount Severn, who has now been given his father’s Earl of Wessex title.

Edward and his family are often seen making appearances at royal events and rubbing shoulders with their more famous family members, but what was life like for Prince Edward growing up?

We take a look back through the archives that show Prince Edward as a young boy and teen, before he headed off to join the Royal Marines and make a name for himself in TV production.

Here’s everything you need to know:

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Edward is the youngest of The Queen and Prince Philip’s four children – pictured here with his older siblings Charles, Andrew, and Anne in 1965Credit: Getty

When was Prince Edward born?

Edward is the youngest of The Queen’s four children and was born on March 10, 1964, at Buckingham Palace.

He is 16 years younger than his oldest brother King Charles.

It’s believed that Edward’s birth was the first that Prince Philip was there to witness – and the first royal father in history to be at a birth – after the Queen asked him to be there, according to the book My Husband And I: The Inside Story Of 70 Years Of Royal Marriage.

Two months after his birth, he was christened at Windsor Castle – the Queen‘s private home and residence – where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot in 2018.

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Edward, who was born on March 10, 1964, and is 16 years younger than his oldest brother Charles, pictured at The British Driving Society’s Annual Competition In Windsor in 1970Credit: Rex

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Prince Edward, pictured as a boy in a carriage at Windsor, grew up loving horses and reportedly learnt how to ride a pony at two years oldCredit: Rex

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Black and white photos from the archives show him looking after the Queen’s corgis, while with his mother and brother Andrew at Liverpool Street Train Station in 1971Credit: Rex

What was Prince Edward like as a young child?

It’s fair to say that Edward had a pretty unconventional childhood growing up.

It’s claimed he learnt how to ride a pony when he was just two years old and he was minded by a governess, just like his siblings.

His governess taught him early on at Buckingham Palace before he headed off to school.

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He had an unconventional childhood growing up in the Palace – seen here with the Queen and Prince Andrew in 1970Credit: Rex

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At five, Edward – seen here at Smith’s Lawn for the polo – reportedly told Neil Armstrong he wanted to be an astronautCredit: Rex

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Edward, pictured shopping at Harrods in 1971, was looked after and taught from an early age at Buckingham Palace by a governessCredit: Rex

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When he was old enough, Edward – seen here with his mother and brother Andrew, who was closest in age to him – headed to school in KensingtonCredit: Rex

By the time he was five, Edward had personally met Neil Armstrong – the first person to walk on the moon – and told him he too wanted to be an astronaut, according to The Sunday Post

Black and white photos show Edward always dressed in his Sunday best and enjoying family trips, hanging out with horses and helping to look after the Queen’s beloved corgis.

Where did Prince Edward go to school?

Edward spent his early years being taught at Buckingham Palace.

He then headed to Gibbs School in Kensington before enrolling at Heatherdown School, near Ascot, in 1972.

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Edward, pictured on his first day at Gibb School in 1971, before later being educated at Gordonstoun – a boarding school in northern ScotlandCredit: Rex

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Edward’s was the only birth Prince Philip was reportedly at- seen here with the Queen, Prince Philip, Andrew and corgis on a tour of the gardens of Windsor Castle in 1973Credit: Rex

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A young Edward, pictured fourth from left, with his dad Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Captain Mark Phillips, the Queen, Prince Andrew and Prince Charles at the 1976 Quebec Olympics, in CanadaCredit: Rex

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Throwback pictures see Edward spending time with his mother Queen Elizabeth II as a boy at Badminton in 1971Credit: Rex

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Since he was little, he has appeared alongside HRH at public events – seen here again with the Queen at Badminton Horse Trials in 1978Credit: Rex

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Prince Edward at The Montreal Olympic Games in 1976, along with his mum and two older brothers Prince Andrew and Prince CharlesCredit: Rex

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Edward was a head boy at schoolCredit: Rex

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Edward received his gold medal Duke Of Edinburgh Award from his father Prince Philip in 1986Credit: PA:Press Association

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Edward, playing rugby in 1983, took a gap year after school before heading to Cambridge UniversityCredit: Rex

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Edward, pictured at the Royal Horse Show in 1982, worked as a house tutor at a school in New ZealandCredit: Rex

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Rugby player Edward studied a history degree at Jesus College at Cambridge UniCredit: Rex

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Edward graduated from university in 1986, before heading off to join the Royal MarinesCredit: Rex

Following in the footsteps of his older brothers and dad Philip, Edward then moved to Gordonstoun – a boarding school in northern Scotland – where he later became head boy.

Before heading to university, Edward took a gap year to work abroad in New Zealand as a house tutor for two terms at a school.

He then attended Cambridge University and graduated from Jesus College with a history degree in 1986.

What jobs did Prince Edward do as a young man?

After university, Edward enlisted in the Royal Marines – he had been a university cadet for three years, but quit just three months into the military’s 12-month training programme.

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Edward always had an interest in theatre and television – seen here manning the laser light display at the Royal TournamentCredit: Rex

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Straight from uni Edward, pictured receiving weapons training at Lympstone in 1987, enrolled in the Royal Marines, who reportedly paid £12k for his tuitionCredit: LNS: London News Service

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He quit the Royal Marines after completing three months of its 12-month training programme – seen here in uniform at RAF BensonCredit: Getty

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Following his time in the military, Edward pursued his love of theatre, seen here on stage in costume in 1985Credit: Rex

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He worked as a production assistant on musicals for Andrew Lloyd-WebberCredit: Rex

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Edward later set up his own production company titled Ardent ProductionsCredit: Rex

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Edward, seen recording for the Royal Tournament in 1984, produced documentaries and dramas in the UK and the USCredit: Rex

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After a decade as director of the company, Edward stepped down to become a full-time working royal – pictured here at Ascot in 1984Credit: Rex

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Edward, pictured with Prince Andrew on VJ day in London in 1995, carried out duties for the Queen and now King Charles, taking over a lot of public duties after his dad Prince Philip stepped back from public lifeCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

The Royal Marines allegedly paid £12,000 for Edward’s tuition fees on the condition that he served five years after he graduated.

Philip had been serving as the Captain General Royal Marines at the time and while some reports say he “reduced Edward to tears” after he decided to quit, others go against this and say Philip was actually the most “sympathetic”.

Following his time in the Royal Marines, Edward went on to pursue a career in theatre and television, and worked as a production assistant on musicals like The Phantom Of The Opera and Cats for Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Your Prince Edward questions answered

In 1993, he created his own production company, Ardent Productions, to produce documentaries and dramas.

Nearly a decade later in 2002, Edward stepped down as the company’s director to become a full-time working royal and carry out his duties for his mother, the Queen.

He then took over a lot of the public duties for his dad Philip – who died in April aged 99.

Edward is heavily involved in the Duke Of Edinburgh Award, after getting a gold award himself growing up.

Since 2015, he has served as Chairman of the Trustees of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation.

He was named patron of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in 2023.

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Katie Storey

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November 14, 2023