Prince Edward's Ex-Girlfriend Reveals the Blunt Warning Sarah Ferguson Gave Her Before Their Split
Sarah Ferguson's candid warning to Prince Edward's ex Ruthie Henshall peels back the curtain on the true cost of royal life.
Before tying the knot with Duchess Sophie and welcoming two children, Prince Edward was head over heels for actress Ruthie Henshall, whom he dated from 1990 to 1993. Although their romance remained largely private, Henshall revealed in her memoir that she was a regular at royal family gatherings. It was there that she met Edward's sister-in-law, Sarah Ferguson, who gave her blunt advice to escape the relentless pressure, scrutiny, and sacrifices that come with life within the institution.
In her memoir, The Showgirl and the Prince, serialized by The Times, Henshall portrayed her former partner as "terribly kind, terribly generous and looking out for me." Recalling her interaction with the then-Duchess of York, she mentioned that Ferguson had already separated from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in 1992, with King Charles and the late Princess Diana also parting ways that same year. With two royal marriages irreparably broken due to busy schedules and distance, Henshall claimed Ferguson told her, "Get out while you can," subtly asking her to break up with Edward before it was too late.
But the British actress was enamored by Edward, continuing their relationship until he broke up with her, citing the same concerns as Ferguson. She alleged Edward told her, "Ruth, I couldn't put you through the job. If I could, I would have two wives. One for the job, and one whom I loved." She eventually accepted his reasoning, coming to understand that the difficult role of a senior royal's partner came with relentless scrutiny, restrictions, and sacrifice, and the unavailability of a spouse on duty.
Henshall also mentioned Edward's reaction to gossip about his sexuality, when British tabloids alleged he might be gay. The rumors arose after he swapped military life for a career in television and theatre. She wrote, "He [Edward] undressed me and took me to his bed, and we made love for the first time. He was romantic and gentle and definitely NOT GAY!" She stressed that he had brushed off the gossip with little more than an eye roll and a laugh, and had no issues with people's sexualities. She said on HELLO!'s A Right Royal Podcast, "Without revealing too much, one of his [Edward's] staff was gay. He had no problem with anybody being gay."
The actress first met the Prince in 1988, when he was 23 and working at Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatre Company. In her book, she looks back on what she described as a passionate relationship, even joking in the interview that she "used to keep him [Edward] up all night." Although their romance eventually ended, Henshall revealed that they have remained on good terms and still catch up on the phone several times a year.
