Royal Romance Revealed in New Memoir Inspired by Prince Edward's Love Letters
A remarkable new memoir promises to unveil the intimate details of Prince Edward's early romance with West End actress Ruthie Henshall, drawing inspiration from rediscovered love letters written by the royal. The Showgirl and the Prince is set for release in July, documenting what the author describes as 'the bittersweet joy of first love' during their on-and-off relationship from 1988 to 1993.
Secret Palace Visits and Royal Tea Parties
The book delves into the couple's clandestine beginnings, featuring secret visits to Buckingham Palace and tea at Windsor Castle with Queen Elizabeth II. Henshall, now 58, was inspired to write the memoir after discovering boxes of memorabilia while clearing out her garage five years ago. 'I found old diaries which I began writing in the 1980s and then found all my letters from Prince Edward,' she revealed. 'I was struck by how precious this time in my life was.'
Their romance blossomed when Edward, then 23 and working as a production assistant for Andrew Lloyd Webber's company, met Henshall during her West End debut in Cats. The couple managed to keep their relationship largely private, though this created complications for Henshall's father David, a local newspaper editor in Kent who faced potential conflicts of interest.
Controversial Revelations and Royal Reactions
The Telegraph reports the memoir is 'likely to create angst amid courtiers and the wider Royal Family as it reels from the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.' It remains unknown whether royal family members were given a preview of the book's contents. Henshall has previously made headlines with candid revelations about her time with Edward, including discussing intimate moments at Buckingham Palace during her 2020 appearance on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
She later expressed regret about those comments, stating: 'I only said it to make Shane laugh. Then I quickly became aware everything is being recorded.' Despite the controversy, Henshall maintains she remains on good terms with both Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, even attending their wedding.
Memorable Royal Encounters
The memoir promises to recount several extraordinary royal encounters, including a memorable weekend at Windsor Castle where Henshall met the Queen. 'I'm seeing a table outside and there's people sitting round it and I'm thinking that looks like the Queen,' she recalled of the encounter. 'I grab her hand like this, forget all about the curtsy and I'm like really really pleased to meet you.'
Another notable incident occurred at Balmoral, where Henshall performed 'I Dreamed a Dream' from Les Misérables for the royal family after consuming her first martinis. 'I must have changed key three times because I was so p****d on martinis,' she admitted, describing an audience that included the Queen, Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother, Prince Charles, and Princess Diana.
Career Focus and Lasting Friendship
The couple separated in 1993 as Henshall chose to focus on her burgeoning theatrical career. She went on to star in numerous hit musicals including Chicago, Billy Elliot, Oliver!, Miss Saigon, and Cats, establishing herself as a five-time Olivier Award nominee. Henshall later married Canadian singer Timothy Howard and had two daughters.
Reflecting on her relationship with Edward, Henshall described him as 'a lovely bloke' and emphasized that she 'genuinely fell in love with him.' Her memoir aims to provide 'a look behind the curtain of a crazy life in musical theatre and what happens next when a showgirl falls in love with a prince,' offering readers unprecedented insight into this unique royal romance.
