Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburghâs, most romantic moments with his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, as they celebrate her milestone 60th birthday
Tatler looks back at Prince Edwardâ??s romance with Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh
Following on from Edwardâs heartfelt plea to the press, there was no turning back for the couple, who were going from strength to strength. The seriousness of the relationship was perhaps reflected best when Edward took Sophie as his plus one to the wedding of his motherâs cousin, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, in 1994, with the prince pictured driving her alongside his formidable aunt, Princess Margaret - having her seal of approval being no mean feat. Later that year, they were also pictured together at the wedding of Edwardâs cousin, Lady Sarah Chatto. It was around this time that it was first reported that Sophie had moved into Buckingham Palace, too, an honour usually reserved for fiancées only.
1996: Questions are raised over the coupleâs lack of engagement
Prince Edward and his then girlfriend Sophie Rhys-Jones attend the polo in 1996
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With Sophie attending more and more events, the media began pressuring Edward over when he would propose, with him reportedly snapping to one reporter from the Radio Times, âIf you shut up, mind your own business and let me do it when I want, itâs much more likely to happen.â Behind the scenes, royal biographers have claimed that the late Diana, Princess of Walesâs bombshell interview on Panorama the previous year had stalled any engagement attempts.
1998: Prince Edward proposes
Sophie and Edward at their engagement photo call
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