Sophie Wessex celebrates 49th birthday

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

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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.