It was 27 years ago when Prince Edward announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Sophie Rhys-Jones, a moment that the British press had been waiting on since they started dating in 1993. Duchess Sophie herself admitted to being "stunned" by the proposal—despite their five-year relationship—but Edward recognized that the timing had to be absolutely perfect, as he told the world on January 6, 1999.
"It’s impossible to understand why it has taken me this long, but I don’t think it would have been right before, and I don’t think she would have said yes," Edward told media during his engagement photocall.
