Sophie's Courageous Journey Through Pregnancy Complications

A new biography details the difficult journey Duchess Sophie faced in her quest to become a mother. Sophie, now 60, and her husband, Prince Edward, 61, are parents to Lady Louise Windsor, 20, and James, Earl of Wessex, 17. Sophie, who married Edward in June 1999 at the age of 34, was eager to start a family.

In December 2001, Sophie, then nearing her 37th birthday, learned she was pregnant. However, she soon experienced stomach pains, leading to an ectopic pregnancy. This condition, where the fertilized egg implants outside the womb, necessitated immediate medical intervention. Dr. Richard Thompson, the head of the Queen's medical staff, arranged for the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance.

A helicopter transported Sophie to King Edward VII's Hospital for surgery. Edward, unable to accompany her, drove to the hospital. The surgery lasted three hours, and Sophie required five pints of blood. Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying she was "comfortable," though she was reportedly distressed and tearful. Edward spoke to the media, describing the experience as "traumatic."

Two years later, in August 2003, speculation arose about a possible pregnancy. The Palace later confirmed the news. In November, six weeks before her due date, Sophie experienced pain while Edward was in Mauritius. An ambulance took her to Frimley Park Hospital, where she underwent an emergency caesarean. She suffered from acute placental abruption, a condition that threatened both her and the baby's lives. Their daughter, Louise, was born on November 8, 2003, weighing just 4lb 9oz. Sophie, requiring a transfusion of nine pints of blood, was slipping in and out of consciousness. Their son, James, was born by planned Caesarean at Frimley Park on December 17, 2007.