June 15, 1999. Copyright, 1999, Graphic News. All rights reserved.

LOW-KEY WEDDING FOR EDWARD AND SOPHIE
By Margot Nesdale

LONDON, June 15, Graphic News:  The wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones will mark the first time in more than a century that a child of the monarch has married at St GeorgeÕs Chapel in Windsor Castle.
The last occasion was when Queen VictoriaÕs fourth son, Leopold, Duke of Albany, married Princess Helen of Waldeck-Pyrmont in April 1882.
But the grandest wedding to have taken place in the Chapel was that of Prince EdwardÕs great-great-grandfather, The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), who married Princess Alexandra of Denmark in March 1863.
Lady Helen Windsor, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, was the most recent member of the Royal family to marry there. She wed art dealer Tim Taylor in July 1992.
Edward and SophieÕs wedding, on June 19, will lack some of the pomp and ceremony of previous occasions, with no processions or ceremonial military involvement.
The extravaganza is more public-oriented than previous Royal weddings, given that it is taking place on a Saturday afternoon rather than a weekday morning. Crowds of up to 8,000 will be able to watch from close quarters as members of the royal family arrive at the Chapel before the brideÕs grand entry.
The 45-minute service begins at 5pm and will be televised live by the BBC.
Afterwards, Edward and Sophie will parade in an open horse-drawn carriage through the streets of Windsor for 15 minutes before returning to the castle for a reception at the State Apartments.
The majestic Chapel, founded by Edward IV in 1475 and completed by Henry VIII in 1528, is one of the most outstanding examples of late mediaeval architecture in Britain. 
It is revered among royal shrines because it is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, BritainÕs highest Order of Chivalry, founded by King Edward III in 1348.
Ten sovereigns are buried in the Chapel, including Prince EdwardÕs grandfather, King George VI, his great grandfather, King George V (whose tomb is shared with Queen Mary) and his great-great-grandfather, Edward VII (with Queen Alexandra).
Windsor Castle itself is perhaps the most famous symbol of the British monarchy, being the oldest royal residence in the country and the largest inhabited castle in the world.
It is the only Royal residence to have been in continuous use since it was built by William the Conqueror more than 900 years ago to guard the western approaches to the capital.
Constructed in wood in 1070, the castle was modified by successive monarchs who left their marks, most notably George IV, who remodelled it in 1823.
In November 1992, a fifth of the castle was ravaged by a fire during maintenance work and it took 250 firefighters 15 hours to extinguish the blaze.
During the salvage operation pieces were numbered and placed in 2,000 bread baskets and at one stage a lattice framework of 75 miles of scaffolding enveloped the castle.
The mammoth restoration project took five years to complete and cost £37 million, much of which was raised from opening the Buckingham Palace State Rooms to the public. 
Today it is one of the QueenÕs official residences and the State Apartments are used for ceremonial and state and official visits.
Sophie Rhys-Jones, the director of a high-flying public relations company, whose romance with Prince Edward blossomed in 1993, has had unlimited access to the royal residences for some time Ð a luxury not granted to Lady Diana Spencer or Sarah Ferguson until after their engagements.
ENDS.

Sources: Eyewitness Travel Guides: Great Britain, Windsor Castle: Official Guide, www.royalinsight.gov.uk, www.royal.gov.uk