Former girlfriend of Prince Edward, known for her stage performances, has recently published a revealing memoir shedding light on her past relationship with the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth. West End star Ruthie Henshall, who had an intermittent romantic involvement with Edward before he met his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, has chronicled their love story in a book named “The Showgirl and the Prince.” The narrative explores their clandestine courtship, escapades to Buckingham Palace, and shared tea moments at Windsor with the late Queen.
Their paths crossed in 1988 while both were employed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with Ruthie recalling their bond as her inaugural experience of love. After five years together, they parted ways amicably, remaining cordial friends post-breakup, as evidenced by Ruthie’s attendance at Edward and Sophie’s nuptials at Windsor Castle in 1999.
Although excerpts of the memoir have been disclosed earlier, the complete memoir was released today. A royal expert anticipates a compassionate reception towards Edward and Sophie as the book unveils intimate details from their past. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond expressed empathy for the couple, highlighting the challenges of revisiting ancient love affairs in the public eye.
Jennie, who reported on the royal family during Edward and Ruthie’s era, mentioned that the media frenzy back then mainly revolved around Prince Charles and Diana, thus overshadowing Edward and Ruthie’s relationship. She underscored the limited coverage of Edward’s personal life compared to the prominent narrative surrounding Charles and Diana.
Ruthie, a distinguished Olivier award winner, shared that stumbling upon old mementos triggered her to pen the memoir. Reflecting on her journey from the West End stage to a love story with a lesser-known prince, Ruthie emphasized the uniqueness and poignancy of that chapter in her life.
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