Misplaced Pages

#630369

94-766: The post of Chaplain-General in the British Army dates from 1796, when the Army Chaplains' Department was formed. During the First World War , the chaplain-general John Taylor Smith was equivalent to a major general and under the control of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State. Llewellyn Henry Gwynne was from July 1915 deputy chaplain-general of the army in France, with the relative rank of major-general. Both had been colonial bishops prior to appointment. In

188-476: A Marie Claire interview, Taylor described her first royal commission: "My first royal client was the Countess of Wessex, and it was quite nerve-racking. But she wears such lovely clothes and she always looks so fabulous, so it's quite easy to design for her. Since she came to see me, she's never worn any other milliner's hats, which is a big compliment. I was really excited, honored, and slightly nervous." Alongside

282-536: A freedom of information request on Ministry of Defence spending on chaplaincy, the National Secular Society proposed that £22m of spending should come directly from churches while professional counselling should continue to be funded by the taxpayer, in order to better serve the non-religious in the military. The proposal was rejected by the Church of England . In September 2021, Defence Humanists , through

376-564: A "safe pair of hands". She has been said to have a low-key approach to royal engagements, and often drives herself to and from events. Amanda Pullinger stated to Town and Country , "She actually presents herself as an ordinary person and I think that is increasingly what the royal family needs to do." She has also been noted for her long-term work on "gritty" subject matters such as gender-based violence in conflict, and trips to "difficult areas", such as South Sudan and Sierra Leone. The Countess's engagements gained significant attention from

470-450: A CF1) is sometimes ranked as a monsignor . Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (born Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones , 20 January 1965) is a member of the British royal family . She is married to Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh , the youngest sibling of King Charles III . Sophie grew up at Brenchley , Kent, and later attended West Kent College , training as

564-420: A charity and go, right, I think you should be doing this, because that's what I was used to doing in my working life. I had to take a really big step back and go, OK, they want you to be the icing on the cake, the person to come in to thank their volunteers and funders, not necessarily to tell them how to run their communications plan." Sophie has since been cited as an under-the-radar "stabilizing influence" and

658-454: A charity that supports meningitis patients and raises awareness of the disease. Later that month, she became patron to The Scar Free Foundation , a medical research charity coordinating funds in wound healing, burns and cleft research. In 2003, she succeeded Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother as patron of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists . Sophie, who was a Brownie as

752-721: A child, became the new president of Girlguiding UK in 2003, following the death of Princess Margaret in February 2002, and remained in that position until 2024 when she became the organisation's patron subsequent to the Queen's death in 2022. She established the Women in Business Group in 2003 to support the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and reach more young people to help them develop skills that can transform their futures. The Countess became president of

846-627: A cycling challenge from the Holyrood Palace to Buckingham Palace for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Diamond Challenge. The ride raised more than £180,000 for the Award, which was celebrating its 60th anniversary. Linking Environment And Farming named Sophie as its new honorary president in October 2016. In November 2016, she was announced as Women of the Future's official ambassador, which supports and celebrates

940-615: A flat in Fulham and who later became her lady-in-waiting . Rhys-Jones then trained as a secretary at West Kent College , Tonbridge . She began a career in public relations , working for a variety of firms, including four years at Capital Radio , where she was assigned to the press and promotions department, as well as public relations companies The Quentin Bell Organisation and MacLaurin Communications & Media. She also worked as

1034-609: A joint address from both houses of the Barbados Parliament and a visit to sites affected by the recent volcanic eruptions in Montserrat . In June 2012, as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Edward and Sophie, represented the Queen during a three-day tour to Gibraltar . The couple attended a Queen's Birthday Parade and toured Main Street, in the historic old town. In 2013, the couple visited South Africa. Later that year,

SECTION 10

#1732851966631

1128-473: A member of one of the following denominational Christian groups, a member of World Faiths or a Non-religious Pastoral Provider: There are also religious advisors from other faiths. An Army chaplain is expected to minister to and provide pastoral care to any soldier who needs it, no matter their denomination or faith or lack of it. In 2004, Defence Minister Ivor Caplin said: “It is our aspiration to have armed forces which are representative of UK society as

1222-401: A number of organisations, including Foundation of Light (formerly Sunderland A.F.C Foundation) which develops educational and community programmes in northern England, based around football. Moved by the death of her friend Jill Dando in 1999, the Countess became a trustee of UCL Jill Dando Institute , an institute of crime science established in her name in 2001. As a full-time member of

1316-576: A riding accident in 1960. Her godfather, actor Thane Bettany , was her father's stepbrother ; both men spent their early life in Sarawak , North Borneo, then a British Protectorate ruled by the White Rajahs . She descends from King Henry IV of England and is related to the family of the Viscounts Molesworth through her grandmother, Margaret Patricia Rhys-Jones (née Molesworth; 1904–1985), who

1410-525: A room, yes, people are going to talk about what you're doing there, but they're also going to want to know what you're wearing". She also revealed that she has never had a stylist of her own and that she makes her fashion choices herself. In 2015, the Countess was named on Vanity Fair ' s Best Dressed List. Together with the then- Duchess of Cambridge , Sophie hosted the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange reception at Buckingham Palace during

1504-488: A rural development trust dedicated to unlocking the potential of rural communities. On Sophie's 50th birthday, she became vice patron of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, a charitable foundation established in 2012 for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee . The trust was a time-limited foundation and closed on 31 January 2020. In February 2015, the Queen gave a joint reception to celebrate

1598-619: A secretary. She then worked in public relations , representing firms across the UK, Switzerland and Australia before opening her own agency in 1996. She met Edward in 1987 while working for Capital Radio ; they began dating in 1993. Their engagement was announced in January 1999, and they married on 19 June at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle . The couple have two children: Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex , who are respectively sixteenth and fifteenth in line to

1692-640: A silk rug from the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa , who also gave Sophie a silver and pearl cup. The value of the jewellery has not been estimated and its precise contents were not disclosed. Given concern about human rights abuses in Bahrain, this gift attracted controversy, with calls for the jewels to be sold, and the proceeds used for the benefit of the Bahraini people . Critics said

1786-573: A ski representative in Switzerland and spent a year travelling and working in Australia. In 1996, Rhys-Jones launched her public relations agency, RJH Public Relations, which she ran with her business partner, Murray Harkin, for five years. Prior to her marriage, Rhys-Jones lived at Coleherne Court , London. While working at Capital Radio, Rhys-Jones met Prince Edward , the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh , for

1880-599: A submission to the Government’s Integrated Review of foreign policy, defence, security and international development, called for an independent review of pastoral support for the armed forces which takes into account the nation’s changing religion and belief demographics and the need for a multi-faith and belief approach. In November 2023, the Ministry of Defence announced the intent to recruit Non-Religious Pastoral Support Officers into chaplaincy in order to reflect

1974-619: A suffragan of the Archbishop of Canterbury , the full title of the Bishop to the Forces is "The Archbishop of Canterbury's Episcopal Representative to the Armed Forces". The Bishop to the Forces is not a military chaplain . The current holder of the office is Tim Thornton , Bishop at Lambeth . There is sometimes confusion between the (Anglican) "Bishop to the Forces" and the (Roman Catholic) "Bishop of

SECTION 20

#1732851966631

2068-485: A variety of places in and around Regina, Saskatchewan before attending the Globe Theatre's 50th anniversary gala. In March 2017, Sophie embarked on a 4-day visit to Malawi as Vice-Patron of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, visiting programmes to end avoidable blindness and champion young leaders. On 9 May 2017, the Countess attended King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway's 80th Birthday Celebrations on behalf of

2162-474: A whole.” The move might also help when dealing with soldiers in other armies from different faiths. At the time there were about 740 personnel that declared themselves to be from the four other main religions, but only Christian chaplains are employed by the Ministry of Defence . The number of non religious Ministry of Defence personnel including those in uniform numbered in the tens of thousands. In 2011, following

2256-484: Is based at Buckingham Palace . In December 2001, Sophie was taken to the King Edward VII Hospital after feeling unwell. It was discovered that she was suffering from an ectopic pregnancy and the foetus had to be removed. Two years later, on 8 November 2003, she prematurely gave birth to her daughter, Lady Louise , resulting from a sudden placental abruption that placed both mother and child at risk, and

2350-834: Is patron. Sophie then travelled to New York City, paying an emotional visit to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum . Sophie also made an appearance at an Armistice Day service at the Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden , which was opened in commemoration of the 67 British victims of the attack. The Countess later attended the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala dinner in Manhattan . The Earl and Countess of Wessex toured Canada in June 2016, visiting Ontario , Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta . The couple visited

2444-638: The Sunday Mirror . In April 2001, Sophie appeared in the media after she was misled in a meeting at the Dorchester by a News of the World reporter posing as an Arab sheikh, Mazher Mahmood , who was later exposed for perjury in Southwark Crown Court . It was claimed by the newspapers that during their "secretly taped" conversation, the Countess had insulted the royal family and politicians, calling

2538-519: The British Army . The Army Chaplains' Department (AChD) was formed by Royal Warrant of 23 September 1796; until then chaplains had been part of individual regiments , but not on the central establishment. Only Anglican chaplains were recruited until 1827, when Presbyterians were recognised, but not commissioned until 1858. Roman Catholic chaplains were recruited from 1836, Methodist chaplains from 1881, and Jewish chaplains from 1892. During

2632-501: The Kosovo War and their families. By the end of 2019, Sophie had completed 236 official engagements. In March 2020, Sophie became the first member of the royal family to visit South Sudan. During the visit, which was requested by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office , Sophie met victims and survivors of gender-based violence and promoted their rights by meeting the female political leaders in

2726-509: The Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex , Sophie has been named one of the most stylish members of the royal family. Sophie is particularly known for wearing different combinations of hats and coats, and favours silk dresses and frocks. Describing her style in an interview by Sunday Express Sophie said: "It's about my charities, but I recognize that I'm on display. [...] When you walk into

2820-457: The Second World War , the head of chaplaincy in the British Army was an ( Anglican ) chaplain-general, who was formally under the control of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State. An Assistant Chaplain-General was a Chaplain 1st class (full Colonel ) and a senior Chaplain was a Chaplain 2nd class ( Lieutenant Colonel ). In 1948 the first Bishop to the Forces was appointed; the Bishop is

2914-554: The massacre in Bucha . In October 2024, she became the first member of the royal family to visit Chad where she met with refugees who had fled to the country following the Sudanese civil war and had experienced sexual violence during the conflict. The Earl and Countess of Wessex established their foundation The Wessex Youth Trust in 1999 to support initiatives and charities that help children and young people. After twenty years of operation,

Chaplain general - Misplaced Pages Continue

3008-550: The 2018 London Fashion Week . In May 1999, less than a month before her wedding, The Sun published a photo of a topless Sophie with her Capital Radio colleague Chris Tarrant , which was taken during a business trip to Spain in 1988. Buckingham Palace immediately issued a statement saying, "This morning's story in The Sun is a gross invasion of privacy and cannot be regarded as in the public interest. It has caused considerable distress." Prime Minister Tony Blair also condemned

3102-611: The 50th birthdays of the Earl and Countess, as well as their patronages and affiliations, at Buckingham Palace . Elizabeth, accompanied by the couple, met key supporters, staff, volunteers and alumni from the charities of their patronage and presidency, as well as representatives from their various military appointments. In November 2015, 100 Women in Hedge Funds announced that the Countess will serve as Global Ambassador of 100WF's Next Generation initiatives. In September 2016, Sophie took part in

3196-614: The 63rd session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The annual event brought together more than 9,000 gender equality representatives from around the world. The CSW is "the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women." From 29 April to 3 May 2019, the Countess, Vice-Patron of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, visited India in her final overseas tour as vice-patron ahead of

3290-502: The Army in that they do not carry arms. Many chaplains have been decorated for bravery in action, including four awarded Victoria Crosses : James Adams , Noel Mellish , Theodore Hardy and William Addison . At services on formal occasions, chaplains wear their medals and decorations on their clerical robes. The RAChD's motto is " In this Sign Conquer " as seen in the sky before the Battle of

3384-533: The Border Union Agricultural Society since its bicentennial year in 2012. Sophie works to support the 'Campaign for Wool', which was set up by the then- Prince of Wales , and aims to promote the use of British wool. During her 2013 trips to India, and Qatar, the Countess visited numerous facilities in her capacity as patron of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight and ambassador for IAPB, in order to raise awareness about preventable blindness. Her work on

3478-789: The Brainwave Centre in 2003, a charity providing therapy for children with developmental delay. In June 2003, she became patron of the Greater London Fund for the Blind , which raises funds for smaller charities for visually impaired people in London. In August 2003, the Countess received patronage of the National Autistic Society , passed down from the Princess Royal . In 2004, she joined St John Ambulance as grand president, and heads

3572-624: The British throne as of 2024 . In 2002, Sophie closed her business interests and began full-time work as a member of the royal family. She is the patron of over 70 charities and organisations, including Childline and the London College of Fashion . She undertakes over 200 engagements each year, including visits to schools, universities and military bases. Her charity work primarily revolves around people with disabilities , women's rights , avoidable blindness and agriculture. Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones

3666-498: The Countess had to undergo an emergency caesarean section at Frimley Park Hospital , while the Earl of Wessex rushed back from Mauritius. Sophie returned to Frimley Park Hospital on 17 December 2007, to give birth, again by caesarean section, to her son, James (then Viscount Severn, now Earl of Wessex). Sophie's first overseas tour after her marriage was to the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island in 2000. In December 2011,

3760-563: The Countess helped Rhubarb, a catering company, in preparing and delivering food to NHS staff amidst the coronavirus pandemic , an initiative organised by Ian Wace . Sophie has also volunteered at local food banks, including the Hope Hub and the Lighthouse, in Surrey and delivered parcels to the homeless during the pandemic. In September 2020, Sophie, alongside her husband and children, participated in

3854-526: The Countess made solo trips to India and Qatar as the patron of the sight-saving charity Orbis UK. She made a similar visit to Bangladesh in November 2017. Sophie, as Colonel-in-Chief of Corps of Army Music , visited The Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra at the Royal Artillery Barracks , in London. On 3 March 2014, the Queen approved the title of "The Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra " for

Chaplain general - Misplaced Pages Continue

3948-709: The Countess of Wessex joined her husband visiting troops in Afghanistan. In February and March 2012, the Earl and Countess visited the Caribbean for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee , visiting Saint Lucia, Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat , Saint Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla and Antigua and Barbuda. Highlights of the tour included the 50th Anniversary Independence Day celebrations in Saint Lucia,

4042-453: The Countess should sell the gems and give the proceeds to political protesters in Bahrain. Denis MacShane , then a Labour Member of Parliament (MP) and previously a Foreign Office minister, said: "Given the appalling suffering and repression of the Bahraini people, it would be a fitting gesture for the Countess of Wessex to auction these trinkets and distribute the proceeds to the victims of

4136-477: The Duke of Edinburgh's Award worldwide. She has been the founder and chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Women's Network Forum since January 2014, whose goal is the advancement of gender balance and equality by influencing business leaders, inspiring the next generation and sharing best practice. In June 2014, the Countess was appointed the patron of Ubunye Foundation, based in the Eastern Cape, South Africa ,

4230-619: The First World War some 4,400 Army Chaplains were recruited and 179 lost their lives on active service. The department received the "Royal" prefix in February 1919. During the Second World War another 96 British and 38 Commonwealth Army Chaplains lost their lives. From 1946 to 1996, the RAChD's Headquarters, Depot and Training Centre were at Bagshot Park in Surrey, now the home of The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh . In 1996, they moved to

4324-698: The Forces" : for this reason the latter is normally given his title in full, i.e. "The Roman Catholic Bishop of the Forces". Each of the three armed services has a chief chaplain (ranking as an archdeacon), for the navy the Chaplain of the Fleet , for the army the Chaplain-General, and for the Royal Air Force the Chaplain-in-Chief . The Museum of Army Chaplaincy holds archive material and information relating to

4418-592: The Great British Beach Clean at Southsea Beach in support of the Marine Conservation Society . In February 2021, as grand president of St John Ambulance, the Countess started working as a care volunteer at an NHS vaccination centre. In May 2021, Sophie become royal patron of Wellbeing of Women , a charity focused on all areas of women's reproductive health across a woman's life course, from menstrual health to menopause. A patron of this charity, she later discussed her own struggles with menopause and how it affected her memory. In July 2021, Princess Alexandra handed over

4512-420: The Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee . Their planned visit to Grenada was postponed after talks with the island's government and governor general, and the couple expressed their hopes to visit the country on a later date. In October 2022, she visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo to engage with projects preventing sexual and gender-based violence in conflict, becoming

4606-425: The Liberation Day of the Channel Islands . The Countess delivered a message from the Queen, who paid tribute to the island's continued allegiance and loyalty to the Crown. She visited Canada and the United States in November 2015. While in Toronto, she criss-crossed across the city, making stops at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the UHN's Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital , of which she

4700-467: The London College of Fashion During her visit, the Countess met staff and prisoners, including female inmates, and awarded participants with certificates as part of their training programme. An avid supporter of charities that deal with learning disabilities, Sophie made a solo trip to Belfast in January 2018 to visit a number of charities that she had supported through her work over the last decade, including Mencap 's children's centre. She also opened

4794-487: The Milvian Bridge by the Roman Emperor Constantine. Its regimental march , both quick and slow, is the Prince of Denmark's March , erroneously known as the Trumpet Voluntary . The Royal Army Chaplains' Museum is at Shrivenham, in a new building opened by the Countess of Wessex on 17 May 2022. Its newly curated collection replaced the Museum of Army Chaplaincy which was at Amport House near Andover, Hampshire until 2019. Chaplains are either classified as Jewish,

SECTION 50

#1732851966631

4888-407: The Opposition William Hague 's appearance. Murray Harkin, Sophie's business partner who was also present at the meeting, was recorded discussing his sex life and cocaine use and boasting about Sophie's abilities in securing celebrities for various events. Tabloid newspapers claimed the Countess had sent apology letters to Blair, Hague and Prince Charles. Buckingham Palace denied the accuracy of

4982-475: The Queen "old dear" and criticising the leadership of prime ministers John Major and Tony Blair and Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown . She also reportedly commented on Prince Charles's relationship with his then-partner Camilla , arguing that a marriage would not be possible as long as the Queen Mother was alive. However, despite some initial reports, the paper acquitted her of referring to Cherie Blair as "absolutely horrid" and mocking Leader of

5076-420: The Royal Patron of the Nursing Memorial Appeal. The Appeal aims to create a memorial dedicated to the 1,500 nurses who gave their lives in First and Second World Wars. In February 2018, Westmorland Agricultural Society welcomed the Countess as its president. In January 2019, Sophie became the patron of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance , which saved her life during her ectopic pregnancy in 2001. On 29 January, she

5170-475: The Trust's planned closure in January 2020. Sophie saw the work the charitable foundation has supported to tackle avoidable blindness and heard about programmes successfully launched by Queen's Young Leaders. In July 2019, the Earl and Countess visited Forfar on their first official visit to the town since the Queen granted the Earl the additional title Earl of Forfar in March 2019. Later in October, Sophie visited Kosovo to meet victims of sexual violence after

5264-406: The Wessex Youth Trust was renamed the Earl and Countess of Wessex Charitable Trust in 2019 and its management was transferred to the Private Office of the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar. It was announced that the Trust's broad charitable objectives would not change, however, their future efforts would be aimed towards supporting a different range of charities. In 2000, she became patron of

5358-430: The World attributed the negative reactions to the jealousy of the rival media, as the outlet had previously conducted an interview with Sophie in which she addressed the rumours about her difficulties in marriage and discussed her husband's sexuality. Sophie had reportedly agreed to the intimate interview on the condition that the newspaper would not publish transcript of the tapes. In a separate statement Sophie said she

5452-483: The changing demographics of the United Kingdom and HM Forces. Serving regular chaplains in the British Army can be Catholic, one of several Protestant denominations, or to the Jewish faith. Uniquely within the Army, the Royal Army Chaplains' Department has different cap badges for its Christian and Jewish officers. Army chaplains, although they are all commissioned officers of the British Army and wear uniform, do not have executive authority. They are unique within

5546-427: The changing demographics of the United Kingdom and HM Forces. The armed forces of the Netherlands have had Humanist chaplains since 1964, known as Humanist Counseling in the Dutch Armed Forces . Chaplains are the only British Army officers who do not carry standard officer ranks. They are instead designated Chaplain to the Forces (CF) (e.g. "The Reverend John Smith CF"). They do, however, have grades which equate to

5640-506: The country following the 2021 Taliban offensive . In March 2022, Sophie went on a four-day solo trip to New York City, visiting the Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden and Consuls General from across the Commonwealth to mark the Commonwealth Day . She also delivered the keynote address on women's rights in Afghanistan at an event hosted by the UN Women and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security . In April 2022, Edward and Sophie toured Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and

5734-496: The country. In January 2022, the Countess went on a solo visit to Qatar in her capacity as the global ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to support the organisation's '2030 in Sight' initiative and visit projects by the Qatar Fund and Orbis International aimed at improving eye tests and treatments in India and Bangladesh. As a supporter of the Women Peace and Security Network she met with Afghan women refugees who had been evacuated from

SECTION 60

#1732851966631

5828-404: The early years of her marriage, Sophie faced public scrutiny for her business interests, and was often compared to the late Diana, Princess of Wales , who had died two years earlier. On her transition to becoming a full-time royal, she later stated: "Certainly it took me a while to find my feet. The frustration was I had to reduce my expectations of what I could actually do. I couldn't turn up at

5922-426: The first member of the royal family to visit the country. The tour also included visits to Rwanda, Botswana, and Malawi. After her husband was created Duke of Edinburgh on his 59th birthday, Sophie and Edward visited Edinburgh to meet with members of the Ukrainian and Eastern European communities in the city, some of whom were displaced following the Russian invasion of Ukraine . In May 2023, Sophie visited Iraq at

6016-404: The first time in 1987 when he was dating her friend. She met him again at a promotion shoot for the Prince Edward Summer Challenge to raise money for charity in 1993, and the two began their relationship soon afterwards. In December 1993 and amid growing speculation about whether they were planning to marry, Edward wrote a letter to newspaper editors, in which he denied any wedding plans and asked

6110-402: The history of the Chaplains General to the British Army both past and present. Chaplain General is also used as a term outside the Anglican Church, referring to the senior chaplain in a nation's military (sometimes called the Chief of Chaplains , as in the United States military ). Some nations, like South Africa , Israel , and Canada , have one Chaplain General or Chief of Chaplains for

6204-468: The impact of armed conflict on women and girls, and to promote the positive role women play in building peace and stability. On 25 April 2019, it was announced that the Countess, along with her husband and her brother-in-law, the Duke of York , have each been appointed vice president of the annual Royal Windsor Horse Show . In May 2019, she took over the patronage of the Chartered Management Institute from Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. In April 2020,

6298-413: The issue has been described as influential in creating the Qatar Creating Vision initiative. In 2013, Sophie became the first ever patron of the London College of Fashion and was announced as the royal patron of British Wheelchair Basketball . In June 2013, she was appointed global ambassador for the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation, an umbrella body co-ordinating organisations running

6392-404: The joint service Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre at Amport House near Andover , Hampshire. Since 2020 the joint centre has been based at Beckett House , part of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, just outside Shrivenham , Oxfordshire. In November 2023, the Ministry of Defence announced the intent to recruit Non-Religious Pastoral Support Officers into chaplaincy in order to reflect

6486-434: The media to respect their privacy. Edward proposed to Rhys-Jones at a vacation in the Bahamas in December 1998 and their engagement was announced on 6 January 1999. Edward proposed to her with an engagement ring featuring a two-carat oval diamond flanked by two heart-shaped gemstones set in 18-carat white gold. The ring was made by Asprey and Garrard (now Garrard & Co ) and is worth an estimated £105,000. Rhys-Jones, who

6580-410: The military as a whole; others, like the United States , have one for each branch of the armed forces; while others have one for each major religion or faith group represented among its military personnel. Royal Army Chaplains%27 Department#List of Chaplains General The Royal Army Chaplains' Department ( RAChD ) is an all-officer department that provides ordained clergy to minister to

6674-416: The new Army String Orchestra in recognition of the Corps of Army Music's Colonel-in-Chief. In November 2014, Sophie was in Zambia representing the Queen at the state funeral of the late president of Zambia, Michael Sata . On 26 March 2015, Sophie attended the reburial of Richard III of England in Leicester Cathedral . In May 2015, Sophie represented the Queen in the 70th anniversary celebrations to mark

6768-531: The new dementia-friendly unit of Northern Ireland Hospice, the first of its kind in the UK. The Earl and Countess of Wessex visited Sri Lanka in February 2018 to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Independence, Sri Lanka–United Kingdom relations , the Commonwealth, education and young people. In October 2018, Edward and Sophie toured the Baltic states . In March 2019, the Countess travelled to New York City to attend

6862-442: The newspaper issued a statement and apologised to Rhys-Jones and the next issue came out with the headline "Sorry, Sophie". It also said that it would again apologise to Sophie in a letter and donate all sale proceeds of the issue to her charities. The photo was sold to the tabloid by Kara Noble, a former friend and colleague of Sophie. Noble later apologised in the following months saying, "I just want to say sorry to everyone who

6956-639: The patronage of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association to Sophie. In December 2022, Sophie was honoured at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, where she received the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for her work concerning sexual violence in war zones. At the start of her relationship with Prince Edward, Sophie was referred to as "the girl next door ", and noted for her successful career and ordinary background. In

7050-570: The public post- Megxit , with her charity work and style choices receiving increased commentary and analysis. Writer Ingrid Seward states that Sophie "is not a self-publicist....She looks good, without being over-the-top, and she's not craving celebrity. You often wouldn't know she had carried out all those engagements." Sophie was not initially prominent for her fashion, but eventually began to develop her own style and has worn outfits by many notable designers. She has exclusively worn Jane Taylor millinery designs since 2009 on numerous occasions. In

7144-536: The publication of the photograph. The Palace made an official complaint to the Press Complaints Commission (PCC). According to Sophie's business partner the incident had left her "distressed", and she was reportedly "devastated" and felt "she was 'letting the side down' before her wedding". Tarrant later said, "There was never, ever the slightest hint of romance between Sophie and myself, let alone these snidey insinuations." Following its publication,

7238-462: The regime." Royal family guidelines and procedures relating to gifts, published by the government in 2003, state that "before accepting any gift, careful consideration should always be given, wherever practicable, to the donor, the reason for and occasion of the gift and the nature of the gift itself ... Equally, before declining the offer of a gift, careful consideration should be given to any offence that might be caused by such action." Sophie

7332-575: The reports, saying: "The Countess of Wessex, who is trying to pursue her own career, is obviously vulnerable to set-ups such as this." The Palace released a statement saying the reported comments were "selective, distorted and in several cases, flatly untrue". The Palace officials stated that Sophie had not insulted the Queen, the Queen Mother, or the politicians, while according to the Mail on Sunday four reliable sources had confirmed these reports. The News of

7426-760: The request of the Foreign Office to promote the Women, Peace and Security agenda and raise awareness about conflict-related sexual violence. She became the first member of the royal family to visit Baghdad . On 29 April 2024, the Duchess visited Ukraine , the first British royal to make the trip since the Russian invasion, where she met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyi . Sophie also met with survivors of war-related sexual violence and torture as well as children who had been returned to Ukraine after being abducted from their families by Russia. She also paid her respects to victims of

7520-536: The royal family, part of her focus became charities that dealt with communications difficulties, including Southampton General Hospital , and the New Haven Trust in Toronto , a learning centre for children with autism. In 2003, she became patron of Tomorrow's People Trust, which helps the disadvantaged to find work, housing and a place in society. In February 2003, Sophie became patron and ambassador of Meningitis Now ,

7614-494: The royal family. The Earl and Countess of Wessex represented the Queen at the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's Accession to the Throne of Brunei in October 2017. On 30 November 2017, Sophie visited the 'Making for Change' fashion training and manufacturing unit, a fashion training and manufacturing unit established by the Ministry of Justice and London College of Fashion at HM Prison Downview as patron of

7708-497: The standard ranks and wear the insignia of the equivalent rank. Chaplains are usually addressed as "Padre" / ˈ p ɑː d r eɪ / , never by their nominal military rank. The senior Church of England chaplain is ranked within the church hierarchy as an archdeacon , and he or she holds the appointment of Archdeacon for the Army whether or not he or she is also the Chaplain-General . The senior Roman Catholic Chaplain (usually

7802-480: The successes of young women. In December 2016, the Countess participated in ICAP charity day in order to raise money for Shooting Star Chase , a children's hospice of which she is patron. During the same month, after the Queen stepped down from her position as patron of numerous charities, Sophie replaced her as the principal patron of NSPCC , Blind Veterans UK and British Cycling Federation . The Countess of Wessex

7896-518: The work of St John's County Presidents, who provide a variety of support for their local St John members. She was associated with ChildLine for many years, preceding her appointment as their first ever royal patron in 2005. In 2006, she lent her support to the Born in Bradford research project, which investigated causes of low birth weight and infant mortality between 2007 and 2010. In September 2006, she

7990-414: Was "distressed by the carrying out of an entrapment operation" on her, but also regretted her "own misjudgment in succumbing to that subterfuge". Subsequently, in 2002, both the Earl and Countess announced that they would quit their business interests in order to focus on activities and official engagements on behalf of the royal family and aid the Queen in her Golden Jubilee year. The Countess of Wessex

8084-546: Was appointed an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists . In the same year, she became patron of England Hockey . Sophie is a supporter of agriculture, farming and food production and held the position of show president of the Royal Bath and West Show in 2010 before becoming vice patron in 2011. She is also patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations and has been patron of

8178-423: Was born at Radcliffe Infirmary , Oxford , on 20 January 1965 into a middle-class family. Her father, Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones (born 1931), is a retired sales director for an importer of industrial tyres and rubber goods. Her mother was Mary (née O'Sullivan; 1934–2005), a charity worker and secretary. She has an elder brother, David (born 1963), and was named after her father's sister, Helen, who died in

8272-503: Was created a hereditary peer as Earl of Wessex with the subsidiary title of Viscount Severn (derived from the Welsh roots of his wife's family). The couple spent their honeymoon at Balmoral Castle . Following their union, the Earl and Countess of Wessex moved to Bagshot Park , their home in Surrey . While their private residence is Bagshot Park, their office and official London residence

8366-524: Was criticised for accepting two sets of jewels from the royal family of Bahrain during an official day-long visit to the country in December 2011, as she and her husband returned to the UK from a trip to Afghanistan. She was given one set by Bahrain's king and a second set by the country's prime minister, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa . Her husband, the Earl, received a pen and a watch as well as

8460-688: Was elected president of the Devon County Agricultural Association in February 2017. In May 2017, as patron of the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association Sophie attended its 90th anniversary and commemorative athlete awards dinner. The Ice Maiden, five British Army women, received royal patronage from the Countess for their ambitious coast-to-coast ski expedition across Antarctica in October 2017. The team aimed to inspire women and girls everywhere to challenge perceptions and grow their ambitions. In January 2018, Sophie became

8554-666: Was elected president of the Royal Smithfield Club, which promotes the education and knowledge to advance best practice in the meat and livestock industry. On International Women's Day March 2019, Sophie officially announced her involvement in taking a stand against sex crimes in conflict zones, joining Angelina Jolie to work with the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) as well as Women, Peace and Security (WPS) formed 20 years ago to tackle

8648-477: Was involved." Both she and the newspaper faced criticism from the public, and Noble was fired from her job at Heart 106.2 FM . The couple later decided not to make a formal complaint. In 2011, close associates of Jonathan Rees , a private investigator connected to the News International phone hacking scandal , stated that he had penetrated Sophie and Edward's bank accounts and sold details about them to

8742-434: Was reportedly close to the Queen from the beginning of her relationship with Edward, was allowed to use the royal apartments at Buckingham Palace prior to her engagement. The wedding took place on 19 June 1999 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle , a break from the weddings of Edward's older siblings, which were large, formal events at Westminster Abbey or St Paul's Cathedral . On the day of their marriage, Prince Edward

8836-539: Was the great-granddaughter of the Rev. John Molesworth , himself the father of Sir Guilford Molesworth and a great-grandson of Robert Molesworth, 1st Viscount Molesworth . Rhys-Jones was raised in a four-bedroom 17th-century farmhouse in Brenchley , Kent. She began her education at Dulwich Preparatory School , before moving on to Kent College , Pembury, where she was friends with Sarah Sienesi, with whom she subsequently shared

#630369