Prince Edward shared a heartwarming message for Duchess Sophie as the royal couple complimented each other with touching words.
The Duke of Edinburgh praised his wife as they travelled to Leeds to celebrate International Women’s Day at the famous Headingley Stadium.
After the Duchess of Edinburgh delivered a heartfelt speech praising the duke as “the best of fathers, the most loving of husbands, and still… my best friend,” the couple, who are marking their 25th anniversary in June, shared a tender embrace filled with love and affection.
In an exclusive interview at the Salmon Youth Centre in Bermondsey, the prince becomes somewhat emotional about his wife in an apparent break from royal convention, reports Mail Online.
He said: “Well, you need a really good supportive network in this and family is incredibly important.”
In a sweet 17-word message, he continued: “I am just very, very lucky that Sophie is a brilliant, brilliant person in her own right.”
Following the embrace, the Duke was pleasantly surprised with a birthday cake, which he proceeded to cut after the guests at the awards lunch at Headingley Stadium sang Happy Birthday and cheered.
Earlier in the day, the royal had received a rugby jersey with the number 60 on it, a reference to how old he will be turning.
“Thanks a bunch. I really need to be reminded,” Edward teased.
Edward proposed to Sophie while on vacation in the Bahamas in December 1998, and they announced their engagement on January 6, 1999.
They tied the knot on June 19, 1999, at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, with around 200 million viewers tuning in worldwide.
Unlike past royal weddings, they opted for a more intimate affair, inviting mainly friends and relatives among their 560 guests.
Edward was granted the title of Earl of Wessex, and Sophie became the Countess of Wessex on their wedding day. Following the ceremony, they spent their honeymoon at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
