EuropeSouth AsiaAsia PacificAmericasMiddle EastAfricaBBC HomepageWorld ServiceEducation
News image
News image
News image
News imageNews image
News image
Front Page
News image
World
News image
UK
News image
UK Politics
News image
Business
News image
Sci/Tech
News image
Health
News image
Education
News image
Sport
News image
Entertainment
News image
Talking Point
News image
In Depth
News image
On Air
News image
Archive
News image
News image
News image
Feedback
Low Graphics
Help
News imageNews imageNews image
News imageSunday, June 20, 1999 Published at 04:25 GMT 05:25 UK
News image
News image
Press declares wedding a success
News image
The royal wedding gets blanket coverage
News image
Beaming pictures of the royal couple Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones, now the Earl and Countess of Wessex, are used big and bold in the UK's Sunday papers.

Royal WeddingNews image
Some include souvenir pull-outs devoted to the wedding, while others opt for extensive coverage and pictures.

But many of the themes across the range of tabloids and broadsheets are the same - the happiness of the couple, the success of the day, and the message that this is a royal marriage that has to work and stands a very good chance.

'Wessex girl'

Several of the papers dub Sophie the "Wessex girl" after the Queen bestowed the titles of Earl and Countess of Wessex on the couple to mark their marriage.


[ image: So happy declares the Sunday Express]
So happy declares the Sunday Express
"Sophie joins royals as Edward's Wessex girl" is the headline on the front page of The Sunday Times, which says the couple made their vows in a way so intense and intimate that "it was impossible not to be moved".

It describes the nature of the ceremony as "slightly confused", a mixture between public and private, but comments that the event showed that the "old magic" of the monarchy still exists after a rocky ride.

Edward and Sophie's new titles are what interests The Observer most, which leads its comparatively brief royal wedding coverage with the clever headline "Earl formerly known as prince gets his Wessex girl".

The report notes that the choice of title had been criticised by constitutional experts, because the title of Earl is usually only bestowed on commoners who marry into the Royal Family.

Horoscope analysis

"So Happy" declares the front page of the Sunday Express, as does that of the Sunday Mirror.

The Express describes the wedding as a "dream come true" and Sophie as "simply stunning".


[ image: Sophie's face smiles out from the Sunday papers]
Sophie's face smiles out from the Sunday papers
The paper, like some others, also carries an analysis of the couple's horoscopes, which, it claims, show that Sophie is more likely to be giving orders to Edward than "obeying" them.

And it warns that the press and the public must not turn the new royal bride into a "genetically-modified" Princess Diana with endless comparisons.

'Turning point'

"Ed over heels in love" is the front page offering from the News of the World. The paper goes on to describe Edward as "cheeky" when he winked at his bride as she arrived by his side in St George's Chapel.

It also tells how the Duchess of York had the only "glum" royal face on Saturday, as she flew off to attend a different wedding in Italy after not being invited to the royal event at Windsor.

The Sunday Mirror describes the wedding as a "fairytale come true", but a later article by a social historian asks why Sophie had to "submit" and promise to obey her husband in her wedding vows.

The paper's editorial column says it is a shame the couple cannot be "plain Mr and Mrs", instead of Earl and Countess, to prove that the Royal Family is evolving into a "modern, slimmed-down monarchy".

But nevertheless, the paper says their union is likely to prove a turning point in the fortunes of Windsor marriages, and wishes them a long and happy life together.

News image


Advanced options | Search tips


News image
News image
News imageBack to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage |
News image

News imageNews imageNews image
News imageNews image
Relevant Stories
News image
19 Jun 99�|�royal wedding
Radiant Sophie marries her prince
News image

News image
News image
News image
News imageInternet Links
News image
News imageNews image
The Sunday Times
News image
Sunday Mirror
News image
News imageNews image
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

News image
News image
News image
News imageIn this section
News image
Honeymoon over for Edward and Sophie
News image
Balmoral honeymoon - then back to work
News image
Royal couple join waxworks
News image
Edward and Sophie begin married life
News image
Radiant Sophie marries her prince
News image
Sophie stunning in ivory silk
News image
Traditional service for royal couple
News image
Stars and royalty at wedding of the year
News image
Something old, something new
News image
Hats off to wedding fashion
News image
Wessex titles for Edward and Sophie
News image
Shoes hitch for Sophie
News image
Marriage and monarchy move with the times
News image
Fan fare: Monarchist memorabilia worldwide
News image
Shattering the royal marriage myth
News image

News image
News image
News image