The Earl of Wessex is the third son and youngest child of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. He was born on March 10, 1964 and christened Edward Antony Richard Louis at Buckingham Palace. He was known as Prince Edward until his marriage, when he was created The Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn; at the same time it was announced that he will eventually succeed to the title of The Duke of Edinburgh.
In March 1989, The Queen appointed Prince Edward a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.
In 1983 The Earl of Wessex joined the Royal Marines as a Second Lieutenant on their University Cadet Entry Scheme. He resigned his commission in 1987 and moved into theatre production through the Theatre Division and Lord Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatre Company.
In 1993 The Earl of Wessex formed Ardent Productions Limited, an independent television production company of which he is the director of production. Ardent Productions is based at Bagshot Park.
Despite his business commitments, His Royal Highness carried out 104 engagements in 2000 in this country, on 67 of which he was accompanied by The Countess of Wessex, and 125 engagements abroad on official visits, on which The Countess accompanied him on 62.
The Earl of Wessex and Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones were engaged on 6 January 1999. They were married by the Bishop of Norwich on 19 June 1999 in St George's Chapel, Windsor and now live at Bagshot Park in Surrey.
