Prince Edward 'lost his temper' at charity event he organised himself
Prince Edward "lost his temper" after he organised a charity event which was accused of breaking royal protocol, a documentary claims.
The usually mild-mannered Earl staged TV fundraising show It’s a Royal Knockout back in 1987. The programme saw members of the Royal Family compete alongside celebrities from the world of sport, music and TV in a series of wacky challenges.
Prince Andrew, Princess Anne, Sarah Ferguson and Edward himself put on 'pantomime' to raise cash, and they were joined by stars such as John Travolta, Cliff Richard and Gary Lineker. The show was reportedly seen by many at the time as a public-relations disaster – but Edward wouldn't accept it.
Singer and actress Toyah Willcox spoke about it on Channel 5 documentary Paxman on the Queen’s Children. She had helped the Prince with the organisation of the extravaganza.
Sarah Ferguson made an appearance on It's a Royal Knockout (BBC)She said the event was “inevitable” as it symbolised “the beginning” of a modern monarchy. According to the star in 2019, it wasn’t the TV programme itself that was “disastrous” but Prince Edward’s reaction when the event concluded.
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Accepting the event was "pilloried", Toyah said: "I believe, for one second in time, it turned, there was a tipping point. Prince Edward didn't want the press milling around and he went into the press tent and just said 'no, you guys are staying here'. The whole atmosphere just flipped."
In an episode of Channel 5's Now That's Embarrassing: The 80s, she recalled how the journalists who turned up responded with "nervous laughter" when he asked what they thought of the show. Unhappy Edward stormed out of the press conference, sarcastically thanking the reporters for their enthusiasm.
The charity effort was panned by critics and Edward wasn't happy (BBC)"They were hot, they were hungry and they had not seen anything in the flesh so they didn’t give him any reaction," the singing star went on. "They just dissed him and he lost his temper. That is the moment that is remembered of the whole event."
Broadcaster Vanessa Feltz added: "He [Edward] wanted the press to big him up and tell him how fabulous it had been, but it hadn’t been fabulous. It had been embarrassing, it had been a monstrous carbuncle on the entire history of the Royal Family."
In March, King Charles finally granted Edward and his wife Sophie the titles of Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, upholding a promise made to them by the late Queen. The announcement from Buckingham Palace came on Edward's 59th birthday with his new title, previously held by his father the late Prince Philip, set to be with him for his lifetime.
The granting of the Dukedom of Edinburgh to Edward means that Sophie will now by known as the Duchess of Edinburgh - and there is also a change for their son 15-year-old James. He now becomes Earl of Wessex - the title that his father was granted on his wedding day - however, there is no change Lady Louise Windsor, Edward and Sophie's daughter, whose title will remain the same.
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