Prince Edward's desire for two wives revealed in memoir

In her new memoir, “The Showgirl and the Prince”, actress Ruthie Henshall reveals details about her relationship with Prince Edward, the youngest son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, which lasted from 1988 to 1993.

Henshall recounts a conversation in which Edward expressed a desire to have two wives: one to fulfill royal duties and another whom he could truly love without subjecting her to the constraints and public scrutiny of royal life. The two met in 1988 while Henshall was performing in the musical “Cats” and Edward was working as a production assistant.

As their romance progressed, Henshall noted the increasing difficulty of reconciling her acting career and personal lifestyle with the strict protocols of the British monarchy. She ultimately decided that the sacrifices required to join the royal family were too great. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the contents of the book.