Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex - Career

Career

On leaving university, Prince Edward joined the Royal Marines to train as an officer cadet; however, in January 1987 he resigned after completing one third of the 12 month basic training course. Edward thereafter became more involved in theatre, an activity he had enjoyed at school and university. In the late 1980s, he worked for two theatrical production companies, including Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatre Company, where he worked on musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, Starlight Express, and Cats. While there he commissioned the 1986 musical Cricket from Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, for his mother's 60th birthday celebration. At the Really Useful Company, Edward met actress Ruthie Henshall, whom he dated for two years.

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 teams sponsored by himself, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of York competed for charity. The media attacked the programme; it was later reported that the Queen was not in favour of the event and that all her courtiers had advised against it.

In 1993, Edward formed Ardent Productions, under the name of Edward Windsor from 1995 and later Edward Wessex. 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, although his activities were seemingly more kindly received in the United States. A documentary on his great uncle, Edward VIII (later the Duke of Windsor) in 1996 sold well around the globe. The company reported losses for every year of its existence except one, and only then because Edward did not draw a salary. An Ardent two-man film crew invaded the privacy of his nephew Prince William in September 2001 while he was studying at the University of St Andrews against industry guidelines regarding the Royals' privacy. The Prince of Wales was reportedly angered by the incident. In March 2002, the Prince announced that he would step down as director of production and joint managing director of Ardent to concentrate on his public duties and to support the Queen during her Golden Jubilee year. Ardent Productions was voluntarily liquidated in June 2009 with assets of £40; Edward had maintained a connection to the company as a non-executive director.