In 1987, Prince Edward made the surprising decision to leave the Royal Marines after just four months of service, a choice that sent shockwaves through the Royal Family. While his mother, Queen Elizabeth, was reportedly “icily displeased” by his resignation, his father, Prince Philip, showed unexpected support for the decision.
Prince Philip, who had served in the Royal Marines for 14 years and held the title of Captain General of the Royal Marines for 64 years, had never intended for his son to join the military in the first place. According to royal biographer Tina Brown in The Palace Papers, Philip had a different career path in mind for Edward. Rather than following in his footsteps, Philip had hoped Edward would pursue a more conventional career, as an accountant.
Edward, known for his academic achievements, was the most academically gifted of the royal siblings. He had completed nine O-levels and three A-levels and went on to study History at Cambridge University, where he earned a 2:2 degree. However, his passion did not lie in military service. After his brief stint in the Royal Marines, Edward announced he would resign from the Forces, a decision that Buckingham Palace later confirmed. A statement from the Palace read, “Edward leaves the Marines with great regret but has concluded that he does not wish to make the service his long-term career.”
The news of Edward’s departure from the Royal Marines came as a surprise to many, including fellow Marine Lieutenant Peter Fraser, who had trained with Edward. While Fraser chose to leave the training course to pursue a Master’s degree, he later stated that Edward had never confided in him about his struggles, calling the prince’s decision a “complete shock.”
Following his departure from the Marines, Edward sought to carve out a new path. In 1987, he launched the controversial It’s A Royal Knockout, a celebrity game show that was met with mixed reactions. The show featured royal family members such as Edward, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Sarah Ferguson, competing alongside celebrities like John Travolta and Gary Lineker. Despite the poor press coverage, it marked the beginning of Edward’s move into entertainment.
In 1988, Edward briefly worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Theatre Company, where he was involved in the production of popular shows such as The Phantom of the Opera and Cats. However, his most significant career change came in 1993, when he founded his own television production company, Ardent Productions.
Ardent Productions experienced its share of controversy, particularly after Edward’s attempt to film Prince William leaving a lecture at St Andrews in 2001. This incident led to tensions within the royal family, with Edward and his wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, later apologising to Prince Charles for the breach of privacy. As a result of the fallout, it was announced that Ardent would cease producing programmes about the royals.
In 2002, Edward stepped down from his role as joint managing director of Ardent Productions, and Sophie left her public relations career. The couple fully embraced their roles as working members of the royal family, dedicating their time to public duties and royal engagements.
Prince Edward’s career trajectory, from Royal Marine to television producer, reflects both the challenges of royal expectations and the pursuit of personal passions. While Prince Philip had his own ideas for Edward’s future, the prince ultimately found his own path outside the military, contributing to the royal family in a unique and personal way.
