BREAKING: Prince Edward’s ex speaks out on failed relationship with seven-word admission
Ruthie Henshall appeared on Sunday Brucnh (Image: Channel 4)
Before Prince Edward married Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, he had a long-term romance with West End star Ruthie Henshall – a relationship the actress has now revisited with remarkable candour. The pair were together for around five years after first meeting in 1988, when Ruthie was starring as Jemima in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats.
Prince Edward, then 23, had recently left the Royal Marines and was working behind the scenes as a production assistant. What began as a friendship soon developed into a romance, although the couple kept it firmly out of the public eye. The pair’s relationship blossomed over time, Ruthie has described Prince Edward as thoughtful and respectful throughout their courtship.
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Ruthie admitted that things may not have worked between the pair (Image: Channel 4)
She revealed that he asked her to wait before they became intimate and later requested that they keep their relationship out of the public eye.
In her memoir, Ruthie recalls that the secrecy surrounding their romance became part of its appeal. Describing one event at Kensington Roof Gardens attended by performers from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group, she admitted she deliberately tried to catch Edward’s attention by dressing provocatively, hoping to persuade him to spend the night with her.
She added that when they eventually became intimate in January 1989, it happened naturally as their relationship continued to grow and they were spending most weekends together.
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Despite their happiness, Ruthie has acknowledged that their contrasting lives meant the relationship was always facing an uphill battle.
Prince Edward and Ruthie Henshall dated for five years (Image: Getty)
The actress discussed that reality during an appearance on Sunday Brunch, where she joined hosts Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer to promote both her long-running musical theatre career and her new book.
Revealing that she is still in touch with Prince Edward, Ruthie said she made sure he knew about the memoir before it was published.
During the interview, Tim suggested their romance had always seemed destined to face challenges because of Edward’s royal role and Ruthie’s career in the spotlight, asking whether it could ever really have lasted.
Agreeing with his assessment, Ruthie admitted they both understood the situation, saying: “No. It was never going to work.”
Tim then joked that he had given away the ending of the story by pointing out that the pair never married or had children, prompting laughter in the studio.
