Ruthie Henshall has opened up on her relationship with Prince Edward, claiming it stood “no chance” of lasting.
The West End favourite appeared on Sunday Brunch this weekend to discuss her newly released memoir, The Showgirl and the Prince.
The 59-year-old musical theatre star used the occasion to speak candidly about her romantic history with the Duke of Edinburgh.
Their relationship, which lasted on and off for five years, began in 1988 while Ms Henshall was performing in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats.
Their romance flourished as Ms Henshall’s career took off, with the talented performer from Bromley securing leading roles in Les Misérables, Miss Saigon and Crazy for You.
However, the demands of keeping their relationship hidden from the press, combined with their increasingly different professional paths, placed considerable strain on the partnership.
After several brief separations, they parted ways permanently following five years together, having accepted that Ms Henshall would never prioritise anything above her theatrical ambitions.
The book chronicles the details of their courtship during that period.
Ruthie Henshall appeared on Sunday Brunch this weekend to discuss her newly released memoir, The Showgirl and the Prince
|
CHANNEL 4
The 59-year-old musical theatre star used the occasion to speak candidly about her romantic history with the Duke of Edinburgh
|
CHANNEL 4
Ms Henshall acknowledged openly during the Channel 4 programme that the relationship was ultimately doomed, conceding that a lasting union between a working actress and a member of the Royal Family was simply too difficult to manage.
Presenter Tim Lovejoy characterised the romance as “the impossible relationship” during their on-air conversation.
“He’s a prince and you’ve got a great career, it could never really work, could it?” he put to her.
“No. It was never going to work,” Ms Henshall replied without hesitation.
Prince Edward and Ruthie Henshall’s relationship lasted on and off for five years, began in 1988 while Ms Henshall was performing in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats
|
PA / GETTYHowever, she did reveal that she remains “in touch” with the Duke of Edinburgh, and detailed the moment in which she informed him that she had been offered a publishing deal, and that Edward “would be in it”.
“He just said, ‘Thanks for letting me know’,” she explained.
Mr Lovejoy followed up, saying that the prince “comes across very well” in the book, which was released last month.
“Do you know what? He wasn’t just a prince; he was a prince of a man,” Mrs Henshaw poignantly said.
The actress went on to reflect upon the inherent complications of becoming entangled with the Royal Family.
The challenges of reconciling a flourishing stage career with the demands and protocols of royal life proved insurmountable for the couple.
Mrs Henshaw recalled when Edward told her that “in a perfect world” he would have “two wives: one for the job, and one for the woman you loved – because you wouldn’t want the woman you love through the job.”