Although he was the Queen’s last son to marry, Edward and Sophie celebrate their 24th wedding anniversary today

Some feared the day would never come, as fans patiently waited for Prince Edward to pop the question to Sophie Rhys-Jones.

But five years into their relationship, in January 1999, they announced their engagement, with Edward telling reporters, “It’s impossible to understand why it’s taken so long, but I don’t think it would have been right before, and I don ‘I don’t think she would have said yes.’

On 19 June 1999, the Queen’s youngest son married his bride in a relatively low-key celebration in which 500 guests were invited to St George’s Chapel in Windsor.

There was talk of ceremonial state or military involvement. Still, 200 million viewers tuned in to watch the event on television.

A smiling Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones wave to the crowd after their wedding

The front page of the Mail on Sunday, June 20, 1999, after the big day

Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip look out the doors of St George’s Chapel as they await the bride’s arrival

While the marriage of the now Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh may have been the simplest in comparison to his brother’s extravagant ceremonies, Edward is the only one of the Queen’s children still married to his first husband.

59-year-old Edward and Sophie celebrate their 24th anniversary today and have shown that their time-taking has proven to be a success and have gone from strength to strength despite trials over the years.

Today, Sophie is an important member of the royal family, part of the power quartet – with husband Edward and the Prince and Princess of Wales – whose influence within the monarchy continues to grow.

In recent years, she has been known to support the late Queen Elizabeth, who she has been known to refer to as Mum, especially during the difficult months of lockdown.

And the fact that Edward and Sophie have been awarded the Edinburgh title is seen as a touching gesture to recognize their kindness and loyalty. It is thought to have been what the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, would have wanted.

The groom, Prince Edward, with his brothers Prince Charles and Prince Andrew as they walk to St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on the day of the wedding

The then Earl and Countess of Wessex stand on the steps of St George’s Chapel with their bridesmaids and pageboys after their wedding

The following day’s edition of The Daily Mail covered the wedding in great detail

One point of concern was the decision to put Edward’s wedding ring on his little finger instead of his third. Aides said at the time that this was a royal tradition

The royal couple had disappointed onlookers by not kissing immediately after the ceremony

Although modest by royal standards, Edward and Sophie’s wedding had 500 guests. Two million views on television.

It hasn’t all gone smoothly.

After being repeatedly accused of using her royal ties to monetize clients, Sophie was targeted in 2001 by the now-defunct News of the World’s so-called Fake Sheik, .

Mahmood posed as a wealthy Arab who wanted to hire RJH, the public relations agency she founded with her then-partner Murray Harkin. Best’.

She was then forced by Buckingham Palace to do an exclusive interview with the paper in exchange for dropping the story – an agreement the paper later reversed – in which she spoke about her husband’s sexuality.

However, the incident turned out to be a turning point in Sophie’s life, and after she scaled back her PR work, she became a full-fledged royal.

Her company later went into voluntary liquidation.

She eventually became close to the late Queen, who considered her one of the royal family’s most valuable assets.