UK: ROYAL WEDDING: EDWARD MARRIES SOPHIE

Описание: (19 Jun 1999) English/Nat

Britain's Prince Edward wed Sophie Rhys-Jones in the regal grandeur of Windsor Castle's ornate St. George's chapel on Saturday, determined to avoid his siblings' highly publicized stumbles and make his marriage last.

Thousands lined the streets of this small town to celebrate the union of the new Earl of Wessex - the title his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, gave him as a wedding gift - and a radiant Miss Rhys-Jones.

She will hereafter be known as Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex.

Despite the royal splendor, it was a relatively modern ceremony for a decidedly modern couple.

The early evening service, attended by just 550 family members and friends, was held well away from London's great cathedrals and with no military processions or official representatives from other countries.

Prince Edward, at 35 the queen's youngest child, is a television producer, and his 34-year-bride a public relations executive.

They dated for almost six years before marrying, and both plan to continue working.

In an interview broadcast on Saturday, the bridegroom said the couple possessed the cornerstone of a successful marriage, explaining that "we happen to love each other, which is the most important thing of all."

Their happiness showed during their nuptials, when Edward winked and beamed at his bride and in Miss Rhys-Jones' broad smile before uttering her vows.

The 45-minute service went off smoothly, except for the nerve-wracking moment when it appeared the bride's wedding ring would not slide onto her finger.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
Priest: "Dear Beloved, we are gathered here today to join this couple in holy matrimony. Edward will you take this woman as your wedded wife, to live together according to God's law in the holy state of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and keep her in sickness and in health and forsaking all others keep only unto her for so long as you shall both live?"
Edward: "I will."
"Sophie will you take this man as your wedded husband, to live together according to God's law in the holy state of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and keep him in sickness and in health and forsaking all others keep only unto him for so long as you shall both live?"
Sophie: "I will."
SUPERCAPTION: Priest, Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones

Standing at Edward's side during the ceremony were his two designated "supporters" - the royal equivalent of best man - brothers Prince Charles and Prince Andrew, both of whose marriages famously failed.

Also in St. George's Chapel was his sister, Princess Anne, who divorced her first husband but has been remarried for almost seven years.

The entire British royal family attended, including the queen and her husband, Prince Philip; Queen Mother Elizabeth, the bridegroom's 98-year-old grandmother; and the sons of Charles and the late Princess Diana, Prince William, 16, and Prince Harry, 14.

Andrew's former wife, Sarah Ferguson, was not invited, and Charles' longtime love, Camilla Parker-Bowles, was notably absent.

After the ceremony, the newlyweds took a jubilant ride in an open-topped carriage through the historic heart of Windsor, past cheering, flag-waving crowds, some of whom had camped overnight to secure prime spots.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
Speaker 1: "Fantastic."
Speaker 2: "Yes absolutely Fantastic, she looked beautiful
Speaker 1: "Nicely presented."
Speaker 2: "And seeing the horse and carriage coming out just made it all very brilliant."
Question: "What did you think ?"
SUPERCAPTION: Voxpop, Royal watchers



SOUNDBITE: (English)




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