Prince Edward’s life in photos as he celebrates 60th birthday

Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis was born on 10 March 1964 at Buckingham Palace as the third son and youngest little one of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. 

Baby Edward is pictured right here at round 4 months previous together with his proud mom and massive brother Prince Andrew. 

Edward was doted on by his older siblings in his early years. The Queen celebrated her thirty ninth birthday in Windsor shortly after Edward’s first birthday. 

Edward arriving for his first day at Gibbs School (later Collingham College) in Kensington together with his nanny, Mabel Anderson. 

Edward later joined his brother Andrew at Heatherdown Preparatory School close to Ascot. 

Edward adopted in his father and elder brothers’ footsteps by attending Gordonstoun in Scotland, the place he was made head boy in his remaining time period. 

The Prince spent his hole 12 months in Wanganui, New Zealand the place he spent two phrases as a junior grasp on the Wanganui Collegiate School. 

Edward is pictured on his twenty first birthday exterior Cambridge University. He studied History at Jesus College, graduating with a 2:2 in 1986. 

After graduating from college, Edward joined the Royal Marines. However in 1987, he dropped out of the commando course with Buckingham Palace saying on the time that the Prince’s determination got here after “much consideration”. The palace added Edward was leaving with remorse “but has concluded that he does not wish to make the service his long-term career”.

After dropping out of army coaching, Edward pursued a profession in leisure, later working as a manufacturing assistant on musicals together with The Phantom of the Opera, Starlight Express and Cats. He’s pictured on his first day at Ardent Productions, an organization he based in 1993.

Edward first met PR advisor Sophie throughout a promotion shoot for the Prince Edward Summer Challenge to boost cash for charity in 1993. The pair’s friendship blossomed into romance. 

After months of hypothesis, Edward proposed to long-term girlfriend Sophie whereas on vacation in the Bahamas in December 1998. 

Their engagement was introduced by the palace on 6 January 1999 and the couple stepped out for a press photocall in the grounds of St James’s Palace. 

The future Countess, then 33, mentioned: “I think we share a number of interests, we laugh a lot and we have a great friendship.” 

Edward additionally agreed and later in the interview mentioned: “We are the very best of friends and that’s essential but it also helps that we also love each other very much.”

Edward and Sophie tied the knot at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on 19 June 1999 in a low-key ceremony with no ceremonial or army involvement. 

Just hours earlier than the marriage, Queen Elizabeth II made Edward the Earl of Wessex, which meant that Sophie then turned the Countess of Wessex.

Bride Sophie appeared stunning in a long-sleeve marriage ceremony gown designed by Samantha Shaw and borrowed the ‘Anthemion’ tiara from her mother-in-law, the Queen.

Edward selected to make a press release together with his marriage ceremony apparel, accessorising his morning swimsuit with a cat-printed tie.  

Edward stepped again from his manufacturing firm and Sophie gave up her PR profession in 2002 to grow to be full-time working royals. 

The Earl and Countess turned mother and father with the start of their first little one. Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor was born prematurely on 8 November 2003 by an emergency C-section at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey. 

Lady Louise was transferred to a neo-natal unit in St George’s Hospital, Tooting, London for specialist care whereas mum Sophie was cared for at Frimley Park. 

Mum and child had been discharged from hospital on 23 November 2003, with Lady Louise’s title introduced 4 days later. 

Edward and Sophie’s son James, Viscount Severn was born on 17 December 2007 at Frimley Park hospital. In March 2022, he took over his father’s former title to grow to be James, Earl of Wessex. 

Edward and Sophie are each enormous sports activities followers, and so they had been among the many royals, together with daughter Lady Louise Windsor after which Duchess of Cambridge to observe the motion on the London 2012 Paralympics. 

While the Duke and Duchess are full-time working royals, their youngsters are anticipated to carve out their very own careers, with Lady Louise presently learning at St Andrews University.

However, the kids joined their mother and father for an official engagement in September 2020 as they went litter selecting in Southsea. 

On his 59th birthday in March 2023, King Charles made his brother Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.