Remember me
They are a famously down-to-earth royal couple with little regard for formal fanfare.
So when Prince Edward was looking for presents for his then-girlfriend Sophie Rhys-Jones's 29th birthday, he deviated from the lavish gifts typically expected of royalty.
Instead of commissioning a new piece of jewellery or buying her an expensive handbag, the King's youngest brother gave her a monogrammed suitcase.
In his biography of Sophie, royal author Sean Smith noted that, while the suitcase was 'very smart', the practical present was 'hardly designed to sweep a girl off her feet'.
'Sophie was faced with having to answer the inevitable question from friends, “What did Edward give you?” with the far from impressive words, “a jolly nice suitcase”.'
Recalling the now-Duchess of Edinburgh's birthday celebrations, Mr Smith revealed that Edward also organised a surprise party at Buckingham Palace for the high-flying PR executive on January 19, 1994.
After all the guests had left, Edward 'sheepishly produced a second present' as he gave Sophie a photograph of himself, the author continued.
Mr Smith noted that while Edward could have picked out a diamond sparkler for his 'unofficial intended', he was likely conscious of any 'press interest' after the couple went public with their romance.
When Prince Edward (right) was looking for presents for his then-girlfriend Sophie Rhys-Jones's (left) 29th birthday, he deviated from the lavish gifts typically expected of royalty
However, neither of these gifts did 'justice to Edward's true nature,' a friend of the prince told Mr Smith.
Sharing details about Edward's letters to Sophie, they 'confided that he called her "Darling" and signed off "with masses of love, Edward", with four kisses and two hearts at the end'.
Edward would also 'happily bombard' Sophie with phone calls and bouquets of red roses 'delivered to her flat' during their courtship.
Edward and Sophie, who celebrates her 61st birthday today, began dating in 1993 - six years after their paths first crossed.
When it came time for her 29th birthday the following January, Edward was faced with the daunting prospect of picking out a suitable present.
'He could have slipped into Garrard's, the Royal jewellers, to select a discreet diamond in appreciation of how deftly his unofficial intended was handling the press interest in their romance,' Mr Smith wrote.
'Instead, he chose a suitcase.'
Edward was worried that jewellery would 'make the gift very public' and decided, instead, to buy Sophie something more understated to avoid media scrutiny.
According to royal author Sean Smith, the suitcase was, admittedly 'very smart' and even featured her initials on the top. 'But it was hardly designed to sweep a girl off her feet,' he added in Sophie: Saving the Royal Family. Pictured: Edward and Sophie in 1994
Recalling the now-Duchess of Edinburgh's birthday celebrations, Mr Smith revealed that Edward also organised a surprise party at Buckingham Palace for the high-flying PR executive (pictured) on January 19, 1994.
For their first holiday, Edward and Sophie had planned to go skiing at the Austrian ski resort of St Anton (Pictured: Edward skiing in 1996)
He also gathered all her closest friends for a surprise party at Buckingham Palace on the eve of Sophie's 29th birthday.
When she arrived for what she thought was a 'quiet dinner' at Edward's Palace apartment, Sophie could be 'forgiven for being a touch grumpy'.
Edward was running late, and all that greeted Sophie was a 'forlorn-looking bunch of balloons' tied to a chair, he continued.
Her disappointment was, however, short-lived.
'Suddenly, the door was flung open and a bunch of her best friends rushed in followed by an exuberant Edward,' Mr Smith continued. '"Surprise!" they shouted in unison.'
At the end of the night, Edward gave Sophie a photograph of himself taken during his time as a Marine that was surrounded by an antique silver frame.
'A delighted Sophie promised to keep it by her bed at the flat in West Kensington,' wrote Mr Smith.
Shortly after, Sophie would have the opportunity to use her new suitcase as the couple started planning their first holiday together.
A close friend of the prince revealed to Mr Smith how Edward had often written his 'Darling' Sophie lengthy love letters and signed them off 'with masses of love, Edward'
While Edward was sadly forced to cancel their ski holiday last minute, the prince had already thought of a fitting 'romantic substitute' - a stay at the luxurious royal Craigowan Lodge (pictured) residence, just a five-minute walk from Balmoral
Shortly before Christmas in 1998, Edward whisked Sophie off to the Bahamas for a surprise romantic getaway where he finally got down one knee and asked her to marry him. Pictured: Edward and Sophie shortly after their engagement in January 1999
Given Sophie's love of skiing, they settled on a winter break in St Anton in Austria, but Edward was forced to cancel the trip at the last minute.
He had been informed that Princess Diana would be taking Prince William and Harry to the neighbouring village of Lech, prompting swarms of paparazzi.
Although Sophie was 'heartbroken' by the change of plans, Edward had already thought of a fitting 'romantic substitute', Mr Smith noted.
He flew Sophie to Scotland to stay in the luxurious royal Craigowan Lodge residence, just a five-minute walk from Balmoral, for their first romantic holiday together.
The six-bedroom stone cottage had become something of a 'royal honeymoon hotel' and Sophie 'instantly' fell in love with it, according to Mr Smith.
'Country weekends with Edward away from London were blissful and this first holiday together was even better,' he added.
'Craigowan was not exactly spartan, of course, boasting a sauna and satellite television, but they had the 50,000-acre Balmoral Estate almost to themselves.'
Almost five years later, shortly before Christmas in 1998, Edward whisked Sophie off to the Bahamas where he finally got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.
Edward and Sophie exchanged vows before 500 guests at St George's Chapel on June 19, 1999, with a further 200 million viewers watching the televised event
Since she took on a royal role, the Duchess of Edinburgh has often been hailed as the Royal Family's 'secret weapon'
'Sophie was stunned and could scarcely speak the word "yes" before finding her voice and replying "Yes, please!",' wrote Mr Smith as he described her reaction to Edward's 'gallant proposal'.
This time, there was no question about what he would give Sophie as he presented her with an engagement ring fit for a princess.
Her white gold ring featured a two-carat, central oval diamond 'flanked by two heart-shaped diamonds' and cost an estimated £105,000.
The couple exchanged vows before 500 guests at St George's Chapel on June 19, 1999, with a further 200 million viewers watching the televised event.
As Sophie celebrates her 61st birthday with her beloved Edward and their two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, she likely still fondly reminisces about the suitcase her charming husband bought her 32 years ago.
The couple, who reside in Bagshot Park in Surrey, were granted the titles of Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh by the King in 2023.
Since taking on her royal role, Sophie has often been hailed as the Royal Family's 'secret weapon'.
'Sophie became the model daughter-in-law, so much so that she was routinely referred to in the media as the Queen's second daughter,' wrote Mr Smith.
Comments (0)