Sophie Wessex celebrates 49th birthday

January 20, 2014 - 14:55 GMT hellomagazine.com

Birthday girl Sophie Wessex's key moments

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The royal family's other golden girl has increased her profile recently with a number of overseas tours.

Sophie Wessx has a lovely way of putting people at ease as she shows with this shy schoolgirl on a visit to South Africa.

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Elegant but appropriately covered up for a visit to Qatar with sight-saving charity ORBIS.

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Last year Sophie also travelled to India on behalf of the charity.

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Here she is meeting some of the eye patients that benefitted from vital surgery.

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The Countess was able to show off her lighter side by hosting a DR Who reception at Buckingham Palace.

Dressed in a figure-hugging burgundy dress, she was seen giggling with four of the Doctor Whos, inspecting a Tardis and meeting a Dalek.

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She first came to public attention as Sophie Rhys-Jones in the early Nineties when it emerged that Prince Edward has been romancing her.

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The couple got engaged in January 1999 after a six-year courtship.

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The Queen demonstrated her affection for Sophie, a PR manager, by hosting a grand reception at Windsor Castle for their wedding.

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Her Majesty also gave the newlyweds the title of the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

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Their marriage was not without heartbreak.

In 2001 the Countess suffered an ectopic pregnancy and had emergency surgery.

Sophie later experienced a difficult pregnancy with Lady Louise, who was delivered by emergency Caesarean in 2003 after life-threatening complications with the birth.

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Edward and Sophie saw their dream of a family completed when their son Viscount James Severn arrived.

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Through all her tribulations she had the firm support of the Queen.

The two ladies enjoying riding together in Windsor Great Park and are both history buffs.

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They have only become closer over the years, with Sophie's discreet companionship going some way to replace the gap left by the deaths of Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother.

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The sovereign admires the way Sophie combines her public duties with motherhood.

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The 49-year-old, seen here at a service of Thanksgiving for the Diamond Jubilee, is devoted to Lady Louise.

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She also dotes on James.

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Edward's wife is a patron of causes ranging from Girlguiding UK to the Paralympics Association, whose gala she is seen here attending.

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The Countess has also developed a stylish sense of dress - which was reflected by a decision by the London College of Fashion to ask her to become their patron.

In 2011, Sophie was one of the belles of Prince William and Kate's pre-wedding party for foreign royals.

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On the day of the wedding itself, she also put in a stylish appearance.

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Her warmth and sunny demeanour make her a popular member of the family.

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At the Trooping the Colour in 2011.

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The Wessexes attend the wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall that year.

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The royal is so chic she more than holds her own with the younger members of the family.

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This royal blue figure-hugging outfit featured an exposed zip and was topped off with peacock feather millinery.

It's just another example of her growing confidence and sartorial clout.

Birthday girl Sophie Wessex's key moments

Birthday girl Sophie Wessex's key moments

Prince William reveals why he and Kate feel so 'at home' in Norfolk

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