Full title: His Royal Highness The Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis, Earl of Wessex, Earl Of Forfar,Viscount Severn, Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Honorary Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty.
Known as: HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
Name at birth: HRH The Prince Edward
Date of birth: 10/03/1964
Did you know?... Upon the death of his father, Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward will inherit the title Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Edward is maybe the least known of the Queen’s children. He is the youngest son and third son of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. He grew up at Buckingham Palace, and the Queen’s other residences during holidays. He was educated by a governess, and later attended Gibbs School in Kensington, then Heatherdown School in Ascot (near Windsor Castle). Just like his father and two older brothers, he then attended Gordonstoun in Scotland. He had a gap year in New Zealand.
The Prince studied history at Cambridge University, despite not achieving the required grades at A-level for entry. This caused controversy at the time, as he effectively got in by his royal status alone. After university he joined the Royal Marines (who had paid towards his Cambridge fees, on condition that he serve with them). But the Prince dropped out a third of the way through the year’s training. The Royal Marines is notoriously the hardest training in the British Army, and the Prince felt he could not manage it.
The Prince had an interest in the arts, and entertainment industry. After he commissioned a musical from Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice, Cricket, for the Queen’s 60th birthday, Prince Edward was offered a job at Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatre Company, where he worked as a production assistant on several musicals. He dated actress Ruthie Henshall for 3 years at this stage of his life. The Prince created his first TV show, It's a Royal Knockout, in 1987. A huge flop and misjudgement, the media put him in a very bad light. It involved 4 teams led by him, Princess Anne, the Duke of York, and the Duchess of York, competing to raise money for charity.
In 1993 the Prince started a TV company, called Ardent Productions. The company helped make several documentaries and dramas. None were received well in Britain. Edward was accused of using his royal status and connections to make money. The company made a loss nearly every year, and their style was deemed strange and outdated. Their one success was a documentary on King Edward VIII, later the Duke of Windsor, which sold well worldwide. Edward left the company in 2002 to work full-time as a royal and support the Queen. The company dissolved in 2009.
In 1999 Prince Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones, in a ceremony at St George’s Chapel Windsor. The Queen granted them the titles Earl and Countess of Wessex. They met in 1993 at a charity event. The couple have lived at Bagshot Park in Surrey, ever since. They also have an apartment at Buckingham Palace. The couple have two children, Lady Louise Windsor born in 2003, and James, Viscount Severn born in 2007. The couple chose to style their children as the children of an Earl, rather than a Prince, hence the lack of Princess and Prince HRH titles. The children may choose to use HRH Prince and Princess titles when they turn 18, but I doubt they will. Their current styling gives them more freedom, in a similar way that Princess Anne’s children have no titles.
The Earl carries out many royal duties every year, in support of the Queen, and his family attend family occasions too such as Trooping the Colour and Christmas at Sandringham. The Wessex’s are extremely close to the Queen. The Earl has taken over many duties from his father, who has now retired from public duties. The Earl represents the Duke at the Duke of Edinburgh Award presentations and events. With the Countess, the Earl makes many trips abroad to represent the Queen and country.
Despite a few mistakes in the earlier stages of his adult life, the Earl has become a solid and reliable working member of the royal family. With his wife, the two of them bring attention to many worthwhile causes and charities, and encourage many people and organisations. He always takes an active interest in his work, and often brings a smile and laughter. The Wessex’s, I think, are real family people, always talking and laughing with other family members at various events, and spending quality time with the Queen. They often seem happy for others, and content to play their part, focusing on the charities and causes they are working with or visiting, rather than themselves. They make the moment special for those they are visiting or speaking to, and aren’t afraid to muck in with things!
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