Prince Edward faces an uncomfortable birthday surprise as his former West End star girlfriend prepares to publish a tell-all memoir detailing their secret five-year romance—revelations that could prove “nightmarish” for Buckingham Palace.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who turns 62 today, is bracing for the July release of “The Showgirl and The Prince” by Ruthie Henshall, 59, his former love interest from 1988 to 1993. The memoir arrives during what royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams describes as the monarchy’s “most serious crisis since the 1990s.”
The timing couldn’t be worse for the royal family. Prince Edward’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He spent 11 hours in custody while officers searched his residence at Sandringham and his former home, Royal Lodge, before his release under investigation.
Henshall, a five-time Olivier Award nominee who won Best Actress in a Musical for “She Loves Me,” has starred in “Chicago,” “Billy Elliot,” “Miss Saigon” and “Cats.” She discovered old love letters from Prince Edward while clearing out her garage five years ago. That find prompted her to write about their relationship, which began when Edward, then 23, worked as a production assistant for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Theatre Company.
During their romance, Henshall made secret trips to Buckingham Palace and enjoyed tea at Windsor with Queen Elizabeth II. The couple parted ways in 1993 when Henshall chose to prioritize her stage career.
Fitzwilliams expressed particular concern about Henshall’s candid revelations during her 2020 appearance on “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” when she made unexpectedly frank comments to comedian Shane Richie about intimate moments with the prince inside Buckingham Palace. She also disclosed giving a musical performance to the royal family after getting drunk on martinis at Balmoral.
Fitzwilliams warned that “for courtiers, the potential mix of scandal and stardom may well be nightmarish.” He noted that the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh rank among only four working royals under 70 and perform invaluable work for the Crown, making the timing particularly problematic.
Henshall later revealed she had been shocked when her comments aired, having covered her clip-on microphone with her hand during the conversation with Richie, unaware microphones were positioned throughout the camp. She contacted Prince Edward following the broadcast, though she declined to share details of their discussion.
After their relationship ended, Henshall became engaged to Scottish actor John Gordon Sinclair. The engagement ended around the time of Prince Edward’s 1999 wedding, which both Henshall and Sinclair attended together. She married Canadian singer Tim Howar in 2004, with whom she shares two daughters, before divorcing in early 2010. She has remained on good terms with both Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh.
Despite the looming publication, Prince Edward carries on with royal duties. He and Sophie traveled to Italy to support Team GB at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, where Edward serves as Patron of the British Paralympic Association. The couple watched British athletes compete and met team members.
Prince Edward received his Duke of Edinburgh title three years ago on his 59th birthday, fulfilling a promise made by Queen Elizabeth II on his wedding day in 1999. The title honored his decades-long dedication to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, representing one of Prince Philip’s greatest legacies.
The couple lives quietly at Bagshot Park in Surrey with their children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, along with three dogs. Sophie once gave an emotional speech praising her husband as “the best of fathers, the most loving of husbands,” which prompted Edward to wipe away tears.