Prince Edward’s past romance with West End star Ruthie Henshall detailed in new memoir

Actress Ruthie Henshall’s forthcoming memoir, “The Showgirl and the Prince,” to be published on 16 July 2026, recounts her five‑year relationship with Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, from 1988 to 1993. The book describes how they met when Edward, then a 23‑year‑old production assistant on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats, visited the New London Theatre where Henshall was starring. Their romance included visits to Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, handwritten letters on palace‑letterhead, and intimate moments such as a first kiss in the palace’s cinema. Henshall recalls a humorous incident when she unintentionally shook Queen Elizabeth II’s hand instead of curtsying, and notes details like “HRH Edward” stitched into his underwear. The memoir also touches on Henshall’s personal challenges, including childhood sexual abuse and trichotillomania, but focuses mainly on the secret royal liaison, which remained largely private until now.