Duchess Sophie’s father had 'hilarious outburst' when he discovered his daughter was dating Prince Edward
He was shocked to the say the least...
Duchess Sophie had a normal although upper-middle class upbringing in Brenchley, Kent, so when her family discovered she was dating Prince Edward, they were pretty surprised.
Their daughter was linked to one of the most famous men in the country. Undoubtedly, with the most famous family. So, it is unsurprising Sophie‘s dad was shocked…
Duchess Sophie’s dad’s shocked reaction to Prince Edward romance
Her father, Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones is a hunter, fisherman and overall lover of the outdoors.
According to author Sean Smith, Christopher was keen on “the indoor pursuit of a good gin and tonic, which had always been de rigueur in Brenchley society,” – meaning, a required etiquette or favourite.
Christopher usually waited until well into the afternoon to indulge with his favourite alcoholic beverage.
But on one occasion, he was left craving his usual tipple to calm himself down.
Smith explained in his new book, Sophie: Saving the Royal Family, that Sophie’s relationship bombshell left her father with a dry mouth.
He wrote: “When Sophie dropped the bombshell that she was going out with Prince Edward, her father memorably remarked, ‘It was the first time in my life that I needed a gin and tonic before ten o’clock.'”
‘Drama’ surrounding Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward dating
We now know Sophie and Edward’s relationship got very serious. They have been married for 25 years and share two children.
But before their nuptials and subsequent fairytale, the couple were hit with a media frenzy which could have led to a crisis.
Christopher and his wife Mary were popular in their small Kent village, long before they became relatives to the royals.
One of their friends, a local farmer, Michael Noakes, reportedly said: “We always tease people that you have to be here for twenty-five years before you are accepted. But this is not so. If you mix easily, you are accepted straight away. Christopher and Mary were popular pretty early on.”
This easygoing and friendly nature likely equipped Sophie with her own likeable personality.
After finishing her studies at West Kent College, Tonbridge, she embarked on a fitting career in PR.
Sophie went on to work for several companies, including Capital Radio.
Duchess Sophie’s ‘crisis’ alongside Chris Tarrant
Whilst she was travelling with the station, on a roadshow trip to Spain, she was snapped with her bikini undone whilst sat beside DJ Chris Tarrant.
A colleague of Tarrant’s tried to sell the photo to the press.
They reportedly demanded £100,000 for the picture, and after it was published, Buckingham Palace described it as “premeditated cruelty” and made a formal complaint to the Press Complaints Commission.
Chris Tarrant responded to insinuations that he had an affair with Sophie, telling his listeners at the time, as per Daily Record: “There was never, ever the slightest hint of romance between Sophie and myself, let alone these snidey insinuations.
‘There was never, ever the slightest hint of romance between Sophie and myself’
“Nobody dares stand up and say it outright because it would be actionable. I, of course, am taking legal action today. I have seen my solicitors, I have already spoken to them before this programme at 6am this morning.”
Tarrant described himself as “sickened” by the scenario and stated: “Leave Sophie alone. Stop trying to dig dirt up because you won’t find any. Edward and Sophie are getting married, they are a happy young couple in love. They haven’t done any harm to anybody, and there are no skeletons in the cupboard.
“Stop trying to destroy them before they have started their life together – haven’t you learnt anything from the death of Princess Diana?”
Thankfully, Sophie and Edward’s relationship went ahead smoothly, but they definitely faced their fair share of drama.
Read more: What happened to the man who said he was King Charles and Queen Camilla’s son?
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