The Earl of Wessex is the fourth and youngest child of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. On 10 March 2004 he will celebrate his 40th birthday.

Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis was born on 10 March 1964 at Buckingham Palace. He made his first public appearance that year after the Trooping of the Colour ceremony, when The Queen carried him in her arms on the balcony of the Palace.

Having received private lessons at Buckingham Palace, the young Prince was educated at Gibbs School, Heatherdown Preparatory School and Gordonstoun. As a pupil at the latter, Prince Edward played rugby and squash, as well as participating in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. In addition, he was a keen skier and obtained his gliding wings and later his private pilot's licence.

In his final term, Prince Edward was made Head Boy, following in the footsteps of his father and eldest brother. He left Gordonstoun with A-levels in history, English literature and economic and political studies and promptly headed off to New Zealand to teach English and history at a collegiate school.

In 1983, Prince Edward started term at Jesus College, Cambridge, studying Archaeology and Anthropology before switching to history. Whilst at university, he developed a strong interest in drama and real tennis, and played college rugby before an injury ended his playing career. Prince Edward graduated with a BA Hons (2nd class) and joined the Royal Marines before resigning his commission in January 1987.

The Prince then became a full-time production assistant with the Really Useful Theatre Company at the Palace Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue, London. While there, he was involved with the production of such musicals as Cats, Starlight Express and the Phantom of the Opera. He left to set up his own company, Ardent Productions, with which he was involved for the next ten years.

Prince Edward and Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones announced their engagement on 6 January 1999 and were married at St George's Chapel, Windsor, on 19 June 1999. At the time of their wedding, it was announced that Prince Edward would be given the style 'Earl of Wessex' and that his wife would therefore become a Countess. Buckingham Palace also announced that the Earl would inherit the title 'Duke of Edinburgh' when that title reverts back to the throne.

The Earl of Wessex announced in 2002 that he and The Countess of Wessex had decided  to concentrate on supporting The Queen during the Golden Jubilee and beyond, and helping the Royal Family shoulder some of the increasing workload into the future.

They therefore withdrew from their respective companies, Ardent Productions and R-JH, and took on royal duties in a full time role.

The couple have taken an interest in many organisations, societies and charities. The Earl is particularly involved with The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. He gained his Gold Standard Duke of Edinburgh Award and received the medal from his father in June 1986. Two years later he was invited to join the Board of Trustees of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award in the United Kingdom.

In 1992 he was appointed Chairman of the Award's International Council which is responsible for the operational development and management of the Award Programme world-wide in more than 100 countries. To date the Earl has visited well over 25 countries involved with the Award and has assisted in numerous presentations of Gold Awards. Last month he visited Tennessee, Arkansas and Florida to promote the international award scheme, while this month sees visits to Scotland, New Zealand and Japan.

On 8 November 2003 The Countess of Wessex gave birth to their first child at Frimley hospital in Surrey. The couple decided to call the child Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary.

They had announced, on their wedding day, that they would not style any children they might have with 'HRH', and so the baby is known as Lady Louise due to the fact that she is the daughter of an Earl. She is The Queen's seventh grandchild.