Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh

Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh(Edward Antony Richard Louis; born 10 March 1964)is a member of theBritish royal family. He is the youngest child ofQueen Elizabeth IIandPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the youngest sibling ofKing Charles III. He was born 3rd in theline of succession to the British throneand is now 15th.
Born atBuckingham Palaceduring the reign of his mother, Edward studied atHeatherdown Schooland completed his A-Levels atGordonstounbefore spending part of hisgap yearteaching atWanganui Collegiate Schoolin New Zealand.He then went up to read history atJesus College, Cambridge, graduating in 1986 with a Bachelor of Artsdegreefrom theUniversity of Cambridge. After a brief stint in theRoyal Marines, he worked as a theatre production assistant at theReally Useful Theatre Companybefore assisting in television production. He later formed his own company, Ardent Productions.
Edward stepped down from the company in 2002 to begin full-time duties as a working member of theroyal family, and undertook engagements on behalf of his mother. He holds patronage with over 70 charities and organisations, including theNational Youth Theatre, theSport and Recreation Allianceand theBritish Paralympic Association.His charity work focuses onthe arts,athletics, and the development of theDuke of Edinburgh's Award, which centres on fitness, wellbeing and community service.
Edward was given the title ofEarl of Wessexprior tomarryingSophie Rhys-Jonesin 1999. They have two children:Lady Louise Mountbatten-WindsorandJames Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex. Edward's mother conferred him the additional title ofEarl of Forfarin 2019. On Edward's 59th birthday in 2023, his brother Charles III granted him the titleDuke of Edinburghas alife peerage, a dukedom previously held by their father, who died in 2021, then briefly by Charles himself.
Prince Edward was born at 20:20 (GMT) on 10 March 1964 atBuckingham Palace, London,as the third son and the fourth and youngest child ofQueen Elizabeth IIandPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He is the most recent child to be born to a reigning British monarch. His birth was the only one witnessed by his father.He wasbaptisedon 2 May 1964 in the private chapel atWindsor Castle.
As with his three older siblings,Charles,Anne, andAndrew, agovernesswas appointed to look after Edward and was responsible for his early education at Buckingham Palace before he attendedCollingham College,Kensington(then known as Gibbs School). In September 1972, he joinedHeatherdown School, nearAscotin Berkshire. Later, as his father and elder brothers had done before him, he moved toGordonstouninnorthern Scotland, where he was appointedhead boyin his last term. Edward obtained a C-grade in English and two D-grades in history and politics atA-level,and after leaving school spent agap yearabroad, working as a house tutor and junior master for two terms at theWanganui Collegiate Schoolin New Zealand.
Upon his return to the United Kingdom, Edward studied atJesus College, Cambridge, where he read history. His admission to the university despite poor A-Level results caused some comment.Edward graduated in 1986 with aBachelor of Arts degree(Lower Second Hons).
After graduating in 1986, Edward joined theRoyal Marines, who had reportedly sponsored his tuition at Cambridge on condition of future service.He had signed up to join the Royal Marines in September 1983.In January 1987, he dropped out of the commando course having completed one-third of the 12-month training. Media reported that Prince Philip, who was theCaptain General Royal Marines, was displeased,but Prince Edward later said that his father had not put undue pressure on him to change his mind.Others stated that Philip was the most sympathetic family member toward his son's decision.Buckingham Palace said that Edward's decision came after "much consideration" and that he was leaving with great regret "but has concluded that he does not wish to make the service his long-term career".
After leaving military service, Edward opted to pursue a career in entertainment. He commissioned the 1986 musicalCricketfromAndrew Lloyd WebberandTim Rice, for his mother's 60th birthday celebration, which led to a job offer at Lloyd Webber'sReally Useful Theatre Company, where he worked as a production assistant on musicals such asThe Phantom of the Opera,Starlight Express, andCats.While there he met actressRuthie Henshall, whom he dated for three years.
Edward's first foray into television production was the programmeThe Grand Knockout Tournament, informally known asIt's a Royal Knockout, on 15 June 1987, in which four teams sponsored by him, his siblings Anne and Andrew, and Andrew's wifeSarahcompeted for charity. The programme was criticised by the media and the public, and it was later reported that the Queen was not in favour of the event, with her courtiers having advised against it.The programme raised over £1,500,000 for its selected charities.
In 1993, Edward founded the television production company Ardent Productions.Ardent was involved in the production of a number of documentaries and dramas,but Edward was accused in the media of using his royal connections for financial gain,and the company was referred to by some industry insiders as "a sad joke" due to a perceived lack of professionalism in its operations.Andy Beckett, writing inThe Guardian, opined that "to watch Ardent's few dozen hours of broadcast output is to enter a strange kingdom where every man in Britain still wears a tie, where pieces to camera are done in cricket jumpers, where people clasp their hands behind their backs like guardsmen. Commercial breaks are filled with army recruiting advertisements".
Ardent's productions were better received in the United Statesand a documentary Edward made about his great-uncleEdward VIII(the late Duke of Windsor) in 1996 sold well worldwide.Nonetheless, the company reported losses every year it operated, with the exception of one when Edward did not draw a salary.An Ardent two-man film crew later allegedly invaded the privacy of Edward's nephew,Prince William, in September 2001, when he was studying at theUniversity of St Andrews, which went against industry guidelines regarding the privacy of members of the royal family;William's father (Edward's elder brother Charles) was reportedly angered by the incident.In March 2002, Edward announced that he would step down as production director and joint managing director of Ardentto concentrate on his public duties and to support the Queen duringher Golden Jubileeyear. Ardent Productions was voluntarily dissolved in June 2009, with assets reduced to just £40.
Edward metSophie Rhys-Jonesfor the first time in 1987 when he was dating her friend.They met again at a promotion shoot for the Prince Edward Summer Challenge to raise money for charity in 1993, and the two began their relationship soon afterwards.In December 1993 and amid growing speculation about whether they were planning to marry, Edward wrote a letter to newspaper editors, in which he denied any wedding plans and asked the media to respect their privacy.Edward proposed to Sophie on holiday in the Bahamas in December 1998 and their engagement was announced on 6 January 1999.Edward proposed to Sophie with anAspreyandGarrardengagement ring worth an estimated £105,000: a two-carat oval diamond flanked by two heart-shaped gemstones set in 18-carat white gold.
Their wedding took place on 19 June 1999 inSt George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. This was a departure from the weddings of his elder brothers, which were large, formal events atWestminster AbbeyorSt Paul's Cathedral, and had ended in divorce. On his wedding day, Prince Edward was createdEarl of Wessex, with thesubsidiary titleofViscount Severn(alluding to the Welsh roots of the Countess's family),breaking from a tradition whereby sons of the sovereign were createdroyal dukes.
Sophie had anectopic pregnancyin 2001.Edward and Sophie have two children:Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, born prematurely on 8 November 2003 due to a suddenplacental abruption;andJames Mountbatten-Windsor(then Viscount Severn, now Earl of Wessex), born on 17 December 2007. Edward's children since 2023 arestyled as the children of a duke, rather than asPrince/ssandRoyal Highness.The family'scountry seatisBagshot Park; their office and official London residence is atBuckingham Palace.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex established their foundation, the Wessex Youth Trust, in 1999, with a focus on helping, supporting and advancing registered charities which provide opportunities specifically for children and young people.His patronages include: theBritish Paralympic Association,the International Real Tennis Professionals Association,theCommonwealth Games Federation,BadmintonScotland,theTennis and Rackets Association,City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Chorus,London Mozart Players,Haddo House Choral and Operatic Society,Northern Ballet,theEdinburgh International Festival,theRoyal Birmingham Conservatoire,the Production Guild,and theNational Youth Theatre.
The Earl of Wessex assumed many duties from his father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as Prince Philip reduced his commitments before retiring from royal duties. Prince Edward opened the1990 Commonwealth Gamesin New Zealand and the1998 Commonwealth Gamesin Malaysia and became vice-patron ofCommonwealth Games Federationin 2006, picking up his father's ceremonial duties who had served as president.He has also taken over his father's role in theDuke of Edinburgh's Award(DofE) scheme, attending Gold Award ceremonies around the world.
In September 2007, the Earl visited Israel in his capacity as Chairman of the International Council of theDuke of Edinburgh's Awardto attend a number of events organised by the Israel Youth Award program, an affiliate of theDuke of Edinburgh's Award.Edward was himself a recipient of the Award's gold medal in 1986 for "a 60-mile, four-day trek fromBlair AtholltoTomintoul" that he had planned.He has been a trustee of the DofE since 1988 and of the International Award since 2006. Edward later went on to become Chair of trustees of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award in 2015,and was named patron of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in 2023.He has promoted the charity's work on different occasions.Edward is also a trustee of the International Award Association, which "encompasses the DofE UK and all its other 61 National Award Authorities across the globe".He was also Chairman of the DofE's international council and in 1999 founded the International Special Projects Group "to provide a capital fund to broaden the reach of the Award".In 2018, Edward, as patron of the Tennis and Rackets Association, played on all 50 real tennis courts around the world and raised over £2 million for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme.
In June 2011, Edward visitedBaltimoreto meet the students and staff of the Living Classrooms Foundation and encourage them to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award's programme.In December 2011, the Earl and Countess of Wessex visited troops in Afghanistan. On the same trip, the royal couple visitedBahrain, and received two gifts of jewels from theBahraini royal familyandPrime Minister. Given concern about human rights abuses in Bahrain, this gift attracted controversy, with calls for the jewels to be sold, and the proceeds used for the benefit of theBahraini people.In February and March 2012, the couple visited the Caribbean for theQueen's Diamond Jubilee. The itinerary consisted ofSaint Lucia;Barbados,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;Grenada;Trinidad and Tobago;Montserrat;Saint Kitts and Nevis;Anguilla;Antigua and Barbuda. Highlights included Independence Day celebrations in Saint Lucia,addressingSenate and Assembly of Barbadosjointly,and a visit to sites affected by the volcanic eruptions in Montserrat.
In 2013, the couple visited South Africa.The Queen appointed the Earl of Wessex asLord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotlandfor 2014.In 2015, for his contributions to projects associated with badminton, Edward was awarded the President's Medal by theBadminton World FederationPresidentPoul-Erik Høyer.In May 2016, the Earl visitedGhana. Alongside President Mahama, he presented young people with the Head of State Awards for their participation in the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Scheme.In September 2016, Edward travelled to Chile as a part of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award's diamond anniversary, and visited projects by British and Commonwealth Fire and Rescue Company and Chilean-British Culture University, of which he is an honorary member and patron respectively.The Earl and Countess of Wessex represented the Queen at the50th Anniversary Celebrations of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's Accession to the Throne of Bruneiin October 2017.In February 2018, the Earl and Countess touredSri Lanka, participating in the 70th Independence Day celebrations inColombo.In April 2018, the Earl visited Australia to attend theXXI Commonwealth Gamesand attend fundraising events for those participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Award challenges.
Twenty years after its inception, the Wessex Youth Trust changed its name to the Earl and Countess of Wessex Charitable Trust, managed by theprivate officeof the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar. Thetrustwill continue to develop sustainable relationships with a range of selected partner charities, and will expand its remit beyond supporting children and young people.
In July 2019, the Earl and Countess visitedForfaron their first official visit to the royal burgh since the Queen granted Prince Edward the additional titleEarl of Forfarin March 2019.The Earl was presented with 'Earl of Forfar'tartan, which was designed by Forfar's Strathmore Woollen Company to celebrate their new titles.In 2020, he took over the patronage ofLondon Youthfrom his father who had held the position for 73 years.
In February 2022, Edward was appointed president of theRoyal Windsor Horse Show, a position previously held by his fatherPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.In the following month, he visited Kenya to oversee the progress ofthe Duke of Edinburgh's International Awardin the country.In April 2022, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar toured Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda to mark theQueen's Platinum Jubilee.Their planned visit to Grenada was postponed after talks with theisland's governmentandgovernor-general, and the couple expressed their hopes to visit the country on a later date.In 2022 and in recognition of his role as patron of the Production Guild, the Earl of Wessex Award was created as part of the Guild's inaugural Talent Showcase to recognise UK film and TV organisations who have created "a successful way of inspiring local talent or skills, widening access or being more inclusive."After he was createdDuke of Edinburghon his 59th birthday, Edward and Sophie visitedEdinburghto meet with members of the Ukrainian and Eastern European communities in the city, some of whom were displaced following theRussian invasion of Ukraine.Edward became patron of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award upon being raised to the dukedom.
In 1999, Edward was criticised by LabourMPsJohn CryerandLindsay Hoylefor comments he made during an interview withThe New York Times, in which he stated that in Britain "They hate anyone who succeeds" and "America is where the money is".The criticism prompted him to issue a statement, clarifying "that offending the British public was the very last thing I would have wanted to do".
In 2011, close associates ofJonathan Rees, a private investigator connected to theNews Internationalphone hacking scandal, stated that he had penetrated Edward and Sophie's bank accounts and sold details about them to theSunday Mirror.
Until his marriage, Edward was known as "His Royal Highness The Prince Edward". On 19 June 1999, he became "His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex". Buckingham Palace announced the intention that Edward would eventually be createdDuke of Edinburgh, a title then held by his father, Prince Philip, once it hadmerged in the Crownupon the death of both his parents.On 10 March 2019, his 55th birthday, Edward was granted the additional title ofEarl of Forfarfor use inScotland.On his 59th birthday, 10 March 2023, Edward was created Duke of Edinburgh, thus becoming "His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh".Hisducal titleis not hereditary, so it will revert to the crown on his death.
In 1994, theIndependent Royalist Party of Estonia, aspiring to make Estonia a monarchy, sent a letter to Queen Elizabeth II requesting permission to crown Prince Edward as King of Estonia. The letter had called Edward a "young British prince much admired by Estonians", adding the party "would be most honoured if you would accept this rare request". Buckingham Palace declined the offer, saying that it was "a charming idea but a rather unlikely one".
Edward is a Royal Knight Companion of theMost Noble Order of the Garter,an Extra Knight of theMost Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle,a Knight Grand Cross of theRoyal Victorian Order,and aPersonal Aide-de-Campto the Sovereign.In 2013 Edward received a Honorary Doctorate from theUniversity of Bath.