Prince Edward Labels Himself 'Runt of the Litter' Amid Secret Six-Year Affair
Prince Edward, the youngest son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, once referred to himself as "the runt of the litter," a stark admission that underscores his position as fifth in line to the throne, granting him a level of anonymity not afforded to his siblings.
This anonymity allowed him to engage in a secret six-year romance with West End theatre performer Ruthie Henshall, a relationship that blossomed after they met backstage at the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Cats. Henshall recounted their first encounter, stating, “I gave him my best smile and said, ‘Welcome to the litter.’ ‘I’m the runt,’ he said, making me laugh. And I thought, you are not what I expected.”
Speculation about Prince Edward's sexuality arose after he left the Royal Marines to pursue a career in theatre during the 1980s, but Henshall was never uncertain about his heterosexuality. In her memoir, The Showgirl And The Prince, she details their intimate moments, claiming, “He 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! And he definitely had experience.”
During their relationship, Henshall had tea with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at Balmoral. However, Edward cautioned her about the challenges of royal life, advising her to “get out while you can.”
Reflecting on her own background, Henshall noted, "I come from a dysfunctional family, and I’m sure they are a dysfunctional family. My respect for them is huge because of the way they treated me, and also because they were a family behind closed doors.”
The couple parted ways in the mid-1990s, but Edward consented to be mentioned in her memoir, stating, “You have a right to tell your story.”
Henshall's revelations about their romance are now public knowledge through her book.
