PRINCE Edward is the youngest child of the Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
Here we take a look back at Prince Edward throughout the years from his childhood to now.
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The late Queen’s son Prince Edward sits 14th in line to the throne as of November 2023Credit: Getty
The Prince married Sophie Rhys-Jones, Duchess of Edinburgh, in 1999.
Together, they are parents to two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James Viscount Severn, who has now been given his father’s Earl of Wessex title.
Edward and his family are often seen making appearances at royal events and rubbing shoulders with their more famous family members, but what was life like for Prince Edward growing up?
We take a look back through the archives that show Prince Edward as a young boy and teen, before he headed off to join the Royal Marines and make a name for himself in TV production.
Here’s everything you need to know:
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Edward is the youngest of The Queen and Prince Philip’s four children – pictured here with his older siblings Charles, Andrew, and Anne in 1965Credit: Getty
When was Prince Edward born?
Edward is the youngest of The Queen’s four children and was born on March 10, 1964, at Buckingham Palace.
He is 16 years younger than his oldest brother King Charles.
It’s believed that Edward’s birth was the first that Prince Philip was there to witness – and the first royal father in history to be at a birth – after the Queen asked him to be there, according to the book My Husband And I: The Inside Story Of 70 Years Of Royal Marriage.
Two months after his birth, he was christened at Windsor Castle – the Queen’s private home and residence – where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot in 2018.
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Edward, who was born on March 10, 1964, and is 16 years younger than his oldest brother Charles, pictured at The British Driving Society’s Annual Competition In Windsor in 1970Credit: Rex
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Prince Edward, pictured as a boy in a carriage at Windsor, grew up loving horses and reportedly learnt how to ride a pony at two years oldCredit: Rex
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Black and white photos from the archives show him looking after the Queen’s corgis, while with his mother and brother Andrew at Liverpool Street Train Station in 1971Credit: Rex
What was Prince Edward like as a young child?
It’s fair to say that Edward had a pretty unconventional childhood growing up.
It’s claimed he learnt how to ride a pony when he was just two years old and he was minded by a governess, just like his siblings.
His governess taught him early on at Buckingham Palace before he headed off to school.
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He had an unconventional childhood growing up in the Palace – seen here with the Queen and Prince Andrew in 1970Credit: Rex
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At five, Edward – seen here at Smith’s Lawn for the polo – reportedly told Neil Armstrong he wanted to be an astronautCredit: Rex
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Edward, pictured shopping at Harrods in 1971, was looked after and taught from an early age at Buckingham Palace by a governessCredit: Rex
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When he was old enough, Edward – seen here with his mother and brother Andrew, who was closest in age to him – headed to school in KensingtonCredit: Rex
By the time he was five, Edward had personally met Neil Armstrong – the first person to walk on the moon – and told him he too wanted to be an astronaut, according to The Sunday Post
Black and white photos show Edward always dressed in his Sunday best and enjoying family trips, hanging out with horses and helping to look after the Queen’s beloved corgis.
Where did Prince Edward go to school?
Edward spent his early years being taught at Buckingham Palace.
He then headed to Gibbs School in Kensington before enrolling at Heatherdown School, near Ascot, in 1972.
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Edward, pictured on his first day at Gibb School in 1971, before later being educated at Gordonstoun – a boarding school in northern ScotlandCredit: Rex
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Edward’s was the only birth Prince Philip was reportedly at- seen here with the Queen, Prince Philip, Andrew and corgis on a tour of the gardens of Windsor Castle in 1973Credit: Rex
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A young Edward, pictured fourth from left, with his dad Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Captain Mark Phillips, the Queen, Prince Andrew and Prince Charles at the 1976 Quebec Olympics, in CanadaCredit: Rex
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Throwback pictures see Edward spending time with his mother Queen Elizabeth II as a boy at Badminton in 1971Credit: Rex
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Since he was little, he has appeared alongside HRH at public events – seen here again with the Queen at Badminton Horse Trials in 1978Credit: Rex
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Prince Edward at The Montreal Olympic Games in 1976, along with his mum and two older brothers Prince Andrew and Prince CharlesCredit: Rex
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Edward was a head boy at schoolCredit: Rex
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Edward received his gold medal Duke Of Edinburgh Award from his father Prince Philip in 1986Credit: PA:Press Association
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Edward, playing rugby in 1983, took a gap year after school before heading to Cambridge UniversityCredit: Rex
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Edward, pictured at the Royal Horse Show in 1982, worked as a house tutor at a school in New ZealandCredit: Rex
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Rugby player Edward studied a history degree at Jesus College at Cambridge UniCredit: Rex
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Edward graduated from university in 1986, before heading off to join the Royal MarinesCredit: Rex
Following in the footsteps of his older brothers and dad Philip, Edward then moved to Gordonstoun – a boarding school in northern Scotland – where he later became head boy.
Before heading to university, Edward took a gap year to work abroad in New Zealand as a house tutor for two terms at a school.
He then attended Cambridge University and graduated from Jesus College with a history degree in 1986.
What jobs did Prince Edward do as a young man?
After university, Edward enlisted in the Royal Marines – he had been a university cadet for three years, but quit just three months into the military’s 12-month training programme.
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Edward always had an interest in theatre and television – seen here manning the laser light display at the Royal TournamentCredit: Rex
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Straight from uni Edward, pictured receiving weapons training at Lympstone in 1987, enrolled in the Royal Marines, who reportedly paid £12k for his tuitionCredit: LNS: London News Service
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He quit the Royal Marines after completing three months of its 12-month training programme – seen here in uniform at RAF BensonCredit: Getty
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Following his time in the military, Edward pursued his love of theatre, seen here on stage in costume in 1985Credit: Rex
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He worked as a production assistant on musicals for Andrew Lloyd-WebberCredit: Rex
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Edward later set up his own production company titled Ardent ProductionsCredit: Rex
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Edward, seen recording for the Royal Tournament in 1984, produced documentaries and dramas in the UK and the USCredit: Rex
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After a decade as director of the company, Edward stepped down to become a full-time working royal – pictured here at Ascot in 1984Credit: Rex
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Edward, pictured with Prince Andrew on VJ day in London in 1995, carried out duties for the Queen and now King Charles, taking over a lot of public duties after his dad Prince Philip stepped back from public lifeCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
The Royal Marines allegedly paid £12,000 for Edward’s tuition fees on the condition that he served five years after he graduated.
Philip had been serving as the Captain General Royal Marines at the time and while some reports say he “reduced Edward to tears” after he decided to quit, others go against this and say Philip was actually the most “sympathetic”.
Following his time in the Royal Marines, Edward went on to pursue a career in theatre and television, and worked as a production assistant on musicals like The Phantom Of The Opera and Cats for Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Your Prince Edward questions answered
In 1993, he created his own production company, Ardent Productions, to produce documentaries and dramas.
Nearly a decade later in 2002, Edward stepped down as the company’s director to become a full-time working royal and carry out his duties for his mother, the Queen.
He then took over a lot of the public duties for his dad Philip – who died in April aged 99.
Edward is heavily involved in the Duke Of Edinburgh Award, after getting a gold award himself growing up.
Since 2015, he has served as Chairman of the Trustees of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation.
He was named patron of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in 2023.
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