The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have thanked royal fans for their “lovely messages” congratulating them on their Silver Wedding Anniversary.
Sophie, 59, and Edward, 60, married at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle 25 years ago in 1999 and have been together ever since.
They marked the romantic milestone by today publishing a second intimate portrait taken in the gardens of their home in Bagshot Park in Surrey.
It shows the Prince, dressed in a tweed vest, shirt and blue trousers, sitting next to Sophie on some steps, holding her hand.
Meanwhile, the duchess, dressed in a brown suede jacket, a striped top and khaki pants, rests her hands on her husband’s, leaning towards him.
Sophie and Edward posted a second portrait today as they celebrate their silver wedding anniversary.
The couple coordinated their outfits, with Sophie’s tan suede jacket complementing the color of Edward’s tweed vest.
The couple posted on the Royal Family’s official Instagram account and wrote: “We are so grateful for the many kind and lovely messages we have received on our Silver Wedding Anniversary.
‘I wish everyone celebrating their own anniversaries a special day too. Eduardo and Sofia.
Royal Dans took the stand to congratulate them.
One wrote: “Happy anniversary to one of the strongest royal couples.”
Another wrote: ‘Beautiful photograph! Happy 25th wedding anniversary Edward and Sophie. I wish them all the happiness in the world, they are both lovely people.’
A third said: ‘Congratulations to you both. Beautiful images. Thanks for all that you do.’
A fourth commented: ‘Congratulations on your wedding anniversary. “You truly are an extraordinary couple whom we all admire and appreciate.”
Edward is the youngest of the four children of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and the only one who has never been divorced.
He married the then Sophie Rhys-Jones at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on 19 June 1999, in a continental-style evening service, where guests were asked not to wear hats.
After their nuptials, the couple became Earl and Countess of Wessex.
The couple married at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in a continental-style evening service, where guests were asked not to wear hats.
Sophie and Edward are pictured with their children Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex, at a hockey match in 2022.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh married in 1999 and are now celebrating 25 years
The Firm enthusiasts flocked to the post, which has racked up more than 80,000 likes in less than an hour, to congratulate them.
Before their wedding, Prince Edward said: “We manage to laugh a lot about things most of the time and it turns out we love each other, which is the most important thing of all.”
The couple previously shared a portrait ahead of their anniversary that showed Edward hugging Sophie and wrapping his arms around her waist. Meanwhile, she rests her hands on her husband’s, tilting her head toward his.
In March, Sophie surprised Edward with a touching tribute ahead of his 60th birthday, giving a speech in which she described him as “the best of fathers, the most loving husband… (and) still my best friend.”
In a television interview, Edward described his wife as his “rock” and added: “I’m incredibly lucky to have found Sophie and that she found me.”
Love blossomed when Edward and Sophie, the then public relations professional, met at a tennis event in the early ’90s.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh at their wedding in 1999. The couple celebrate their silver wedding anniversary, commemorating 25 years of married life with a loving new portrait.
Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, who have been married for 25 years, marked the special anniversary by posting this photo.
The couple now have two children, Lady Louise Windsor, 20, and James, Earl of Wessex, 16.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Lady Louise attended Trooping the Color and came out to Buckingham Palace to greet royal fans and watch the aerial parade.
Edward and Sofia have become a key part of the monarchy in recent times, as the number of working royals has been reduced, with the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of York stepping down from their roles, the death of Queen Elizabeth and both King Charles and Kate. Middleton receives treatment for cancer.
Apart from Prince William, 41, and the Princess of Wales, 42, who is undergoing cancer treatment, Edward and Sofia are the youngest active members of the monarchy.
In accordance with the wishes of the late Queen and Prince Philip, King Charles bestowed the title of Duke of Edinburgh on Edward on his 59th birthday in 2023.
Philip’s wish that Edward would one day hold the title was in recognition of his son’s decades-long commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the youth program that is one of Philip’s greatest legacies.