Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex

Prince Edward was born on 10 March 1964, at Buckingham Palace, London. He is the fourth and youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Edward was made Earl of Wessex prior to marrying Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999. The couple have two children: Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn. He was given the additional title of Earl of Forfar in 2019.

About Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex in brief

Summary Prince Edward, Earl of WessexPrince Edward was born on 10 March 1964, at Buckingham Palace, London. He is the fourth and youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Edward studied at Heatherdown School before earning his A-levels at Gordonstoun. He graduated from Jesus College at the University of Cambridge in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. Edward was made Earl of Wessex prior to marrying Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999. The couple have two children: Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn. He was given the additional title of Earl of Forfar in 2019. The Earl stepped down from the company in 2002 to begin full-time duties as a working member of the royal family, and undertakes engagements on behalf of the Queen. His charity work focuses on sport, the arts, and the development of the Duke ofinburgh’s Award, which centers around fitness, wellbeing, and community service. Edward’s first foray into television production was the programme The Grand Knockout Tournament, informally known as It’s a Royal Knockout, on 15 June 1987, in which four teams sponsored by him, the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of York competed for charity. The programme was criticized 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. In 1993, Edward formed the television production company Ardent Productions.

The company was involved in the production of documentaries and dramas, but Edward was accused in the media of using his royal connections for financial gain. Edward made a documentary about his great uncle, Edward VIII, in 1996, which sold well worldwide, though it was reported that every year it was filled with army recruiting advertisements. He also appeared in a film about his uncle, Prince Charles, which was released in 1998. The film, The Prince of Wales, was released the same year, and was directed by David Walliams, who later went on to direct The Hobbit and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, among other films and TV series. Edward has a daughter, Lady Louise, and a son, James, who is the son of Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. He has a stepson, Prince George of Cambridge, and an illegitimate daughter, Princess Beatrice of York, who was born in 1997. Edward is the third in line to the British throne; he is currently 11th in line. He had a brief stint in the Royal Marines, and worked as a theatre production assistant, and later formed his own television company, Ardent Production. He commissioned the 1986 musical Cricket from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, for his mother’s 60th birthday celebration, which led to a job offer at the Really Useful Theatre Company. He met actress Ruthie Henshall, whom he dated for three years, while at school.