Edward and Sophie's Sorrow

This week the Earl and Countess of Wessex experienced a most painful and traumatic event losing their first child to an ectopic pregnancy. It is by far the worst thing they've experienced in a year they would probably agree has been their own, personal annus horribilus. After Sophie being caught in the fake sheik sting that was dubbed 'Sophiegate' in the spring and Edward's Ardent film crew being caught at St. Andrews, Prince William's university, after the media agreed to leave the young Prince in peace and the criticism of the couples career choices lead to a formal announcement from the Palace regarding the roles of working royals, I'm sure they doubted things could get any worse. Unfortunately, they have. From experience I can tell you that losing a child, even at this early stage in the pregnancy, is devastating and has an after affect that stays with you long after.

Though Sophie and Edward have decided not to speak about the intimate details of the pregnancy - did they know she was with child? Exactly how far along was she? Six weeks, eight weeks? Had there been a scan?, etc. - they have shared that it was a very traumatic experience and that they are greatly saddened by their loss. The hospital spokesperson kept equally mute on the intimate details stating, "We are not saying. It is private to them and we are not going to confirm or deny it. It is pure speculation."

Even so, the papers have been speculating that the couple knew as they are reporting that Sophie made an announcement at a RJ-H Board Meeting that she intended to step down to start a family and that the public announcement would be made in January to coincide with the kick off of the Queen's Jubilee Year. Judging by the pleasure HM gets from her other grandchildren, I'm sure the birth of a grandchild would have been the best gift the she would have received for her Golden Jubilee. I'm sure she is very saddened by this loss too.

It has also been reported that Prince Edward will be stepping down as the head of his company, Ardent Productions, to take on royal duties full time. I think they will be excellent in this role. They have both run companies and can manage their royal roles along with their private lives like the Chairman and CEO of a major firm. It is said that the Queen will increase their allowance to make up for the lost wages and will assist with the costs of running Bagshot Park the estate on which they have chosen to live. It is a large house with large gardens and grounds and living there could be quite a drain on their allowance without additional assistance. This can only be good news to HM as with their media and communications/pr backgrounds they will prove to be a popular and sought after couple for royal engagements. This will also place them back in thick of things near and dear to the Queen's heart - like duty and service to the public.

At this most promising time, it is with great sadness that I read of the tragic loss of their first child. It was made even more traumatic by the physical danger that was suffered along with the emotional ordeal. Sophie's miscarriage was due to an ectopic pregnancy which means the fetus is growing outside of the womb - most often inside of the fallopian tube. The warning signs are severe abdominal pain as blood vessel burst causing internal bleeding. It is reported that Sophie was doubled over in pain when the air ambulance came to Surrey (location of her home, Bagshot Park) to transport her to London where she then took a ground ambulance to Edward VII Hospital a few miles away.

Once in hospital, she underwent a two and a half hour surgery. She is said to have lost a lot of blood and it is widely assumed, one of her ovaries. If this is true, it will have some impact on her fertility, which is the last thing one wants to hear when determined to start a family. Saturday, the Sun Health Editor, Jacqui Thornton, reported that, "After an ectopic pregnancy 20 per cent of women will have another, 30 per cent will have difficulty getting pregnant again, and half will have a normal pregnancy." In a statement issued by the Countess she said, "I'm obviously very sad - but it was just no meant to be. But there will be other chances." Hopefully she will find herself in the 50 percent group who find their subsequent pregnancies normal.

I'm happy to report that she returned home where she is expected to take six weeks to recover from the physical trauma she has suffered. The emotional trauma will take much longer to overcome. She may find herself thinking about the child she lost each month on the day that coincides with the due date. She may find herself looking at other pregnant women and wondering if she would have carried her child the same way, if they know the sex of the child and how it must feel to have a little life stirring inside of you. She may have a friend or relative who is having a baby around the time she would have expected her child. For years to come she may feel a tinge of sadness wondering if her child would have been the same sex as this child or if the two children would have developed a close relationship like the one she has with the child's parents. She may look at her nieces and nephews and wonder who her children would have resembled. Would her child have been a daughter like Princess Beatrice who looks so like her mother, but definitely has her father's mouth? Would her child have been a boy, who like Prince William, strongly resembles his mother - in this case her? It will raise many feelings that she never knew she had. It will be a long and painful journey that even the birth of a healthy, beautiful, well-loved child can never fully erase.

Sophie and Edward are a strong couple. They have been through so much this year and it seems to have only brought them closer. Let us all hope that 2002 will be for them a year filled with as much joy as this year has been filled with sorrow and disappointment.

How did you feel to read about this tragic event? Though I don't always agree with Edward and Sophie, I must say I would never have wished them any harm - especially not such anguish as this event has caused them. Has it softened your view of them as people? Has it made them seem some how more human to you? Please do write and let me know how this news has affected your view of this often-controversial couple.

All the best,