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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Rebecca Russell

Sophie Wessex was offered Kate Middleton's title - but Prince Edward stepped in

It is well-known that The Earl and Countess of Wessex shared an incredibly close bond with The Queen before her death at the age of 96 on September 8.

Prince Edward met Sophie Rhys-Jones during a charity event at the Queen's Tennis Club in London and the pair announced their engagement six years later on January 6, 1999. Ahead of their wedding, the palace announced that the pair would be styled as The Earl and Countess of Wessex.

The news came as a surprise to the public as it was expected that The Queen's youngest son would be given a traditional Dukedom like his two elder brothers.

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