Why Duchess Sophie was left speechless after Prince Edward's 'gallant' proposal and her dad's cheeky remark about her waiting five years
Prince Edward popped the question as they holidayed in the Bahamas
After five years together, Duchess Sophie was said to be stunned when Prince Edward got down on one knee in December, 1998.
The couple were holidaying in the Bahamas when Prince Edward left Duchess Sophie almost speechless. But why was the proposal such a shock to Sophie?
Let us explain…
Duchess Sophie was stunned by Prince Edward’s proposal
Allegedly, Duchess Sophie had waited so patiently for Prince Edward to ask that all important question, she was starting to wonder whether the day would ever come.
However, royal expert Ingrid Seward claims that their long courtship was the key to their happy marriage.
Seward told BBC: “They will have discovered anything they didn’t like about each other,” during their five-year relationship.
By 1998, Sophie and Edward had reportedly not spoken about marriage “seriously in three years”.
Biographer Sean Smith claims Duchess Sophie was “aware” that her “biological clock was ticking”.
Why Duchess Sophie thought the proposal would never come
Despite this, the future duchess was said to have known their could be no marriage anytime soon, according to Smith who penned Sophie: Saving the Royal Family.
This was become, just a year before, the royal family had endured a huge loss – the death of Princess Diana.
Thus, plunging The Firm into mourning, alongside the rest of the world.
This made a happy union like a marriage off limits for a time.
So when Prince Edward did finally propose to Sophie, she “could scarcely speak the word ‘yes’,” claims Sean Smith.
Prince Edward had whisked Sophie off to the Bahamas. He had booked the private Hamilton House on the remote island of Eleuthera, to set the scene.
How Prince Edward popped the question
The beachside four-bedroom villa made for a perfect spot for the couple to unwind.
They were said to have soaked up the sun for two days before Sophie’s Prince Charming popped the question.
Prince Edward, now the Duke of Edinburgh, was said to have proposed over a romantic candle-lit dinner. How lovely!
“Sophie was stunned and could scarcely speak the word ‘yes’ before finding her voice and replying ‘Yes, please!’,” Sean Smith detailed in Sophie: Saving the Royal Family.
In their engagement interview, Sophie admitted: “I was slightly stunned for a minute. And then I suddenly realised I should actually answer the question.
“So, then I said ‘yes’.”
She added: “‘Yes please’.”
The couple returned to the UK on December 23, where they parted ways for Christmas.
The media beat them to sharing the news
They had planned to keep their proposal under wraps until January 6, 1999.
This was so Edward could formally ask Sophie’s father Christopher Rhys-Jones for her hand in marriage.
However, as Edward was said to be looking forward to springing his engagement on the media, he was beaten to it.
As per reports, The Sun ran a front-page story on the morning of their announcement, before Buckingham Palace could even share an official confirmation.
The Palace stated: “The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are delighted to announce the engagement of their youngest son, Prince Edward, to Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones.
“The couple sought the permission of their respective parents between Christmas and New Year. Both families are thrilled at the news.”
A date wasn’t confirmed, but it was revealed “that it might be possible to use St George’s Chapel, Windsor, in the late spring or summer.”
Sophie’s dad Christopher makes cheeky remark following engagement
Meanwhile, Sophie’s family were said to be overjoyed.
In fact, her father Christopher, took part in an interview from his doorstep. It was here he made a very cheeky quip about Sophie and Edward’s five-year relationship.
He told the media: “We like Edward immensely. He is a very, very nice chap. I think Sophie will do very well.”
In a veiled acknowledgement of Sophie’s five-year wait for Edward to pop the question, Christopher added: “She has not exactly been catapulted in – it’s been a fairly long apprenticeship.”
So, what do you think? You can let us know by leaving a comment on our Facebook page @RoyalInsider. We want to hear your thoughts!
