Sophie countess of wessex: why sophie is a countess and not a duchess

Sophie, the Countess of Wessex is married to the Queen’s youngest son, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. The couple married in 1999 and Sophie is now a full-time working member of the Royal

Family who splits her time between her work in support of the Queen and a large number of her own charities and organisations. The Earl and Countess of Wessex have two children - Lady Louise

Windsor and James, Viscount Severn - who are respectively twelfth and eleventh in line to the British throne. WHY IS SOPHIE A COUNTESS AND NOT A DUCHESS? The aristocratic pecking order in

the UK may appear confusing, with a long list of different titles. In England titles and roles are given to the members of the Royal Family, either by inheritance or by marriage. Some titles

like prince and princess are reserved for men or women who are royal by birth, such as Prince William and Prince Harry. READ MORE: SOPHIE, COUNTESS OF WESSEX: WHAT IS HER ENGAGEMENT RING

WORTH? But their wives, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are not princesses, and have instead been given duchess titles. There are also other titles such as baron and baroness, viscount and

viscountess, marquess and marchioness and earl and countess - which Sophie has been given. If the Queen wanted to, she could technically change or give out royal titles as she wanted - but

the system is an old tradition which has lasted for centuries. In Sophie, the Countess of Wessex’ case, her title means she has an equal rank with her husband Prince Edward, the Earl of

Wessex. READ MORE: HOW SOPHIE COUNTESS OF WESSEX IS THE ‘PERFECT COMPLEMENT’ FOR EDWARD A countess is the third rank in the peerage. A duchess on the other hand is a woman who is together

with the duke, and is the highest rank below the monarch. The title is given after marriage and duchesses are also addressed as Her Royal Highness. The similarity’s between duchess and

countess is that both have ranks in the peerage and both have names by which they are addressed. The difference is that a duchess is a step higher on the rank below the monarch, with

countess being the third rank in the peerage. Both duchess and countess are one of the noblest titles below the Queen. Those bestowed with these titles play a huge role in charity work and

community development despite the differences. The lowest rank of the peerage system is baroness, and this can be hereditary or given out. The title has origins in the English feudal system

and is a rank of nobility and title of honour.