Edward - Prince of Arts

"When I first heard about this particular award, I checked my calendar to make sure it wasn't April 1 because I thought somebody was having a little practical joke." So said Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, upon being presented the Bette Davis Achievement Award earlier this month. Michael Merrill, Bette Davis' son, created the award in his mother's memory to honor excellence in the entertainment industry. Meryl Streep was its first recipient in 1998. Why was Prince Edward so surprised to find himself among Hollywood's Royalty?

After all, Edward did found Ardent Productions in 1993 with $326,000 of his own savings. Ardent has produced or co-produced such critically acclaimed programs as "Edward on Edward" about the life of is great uncle, Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor, and "Crown and Country" a series detailing the royal ties of some of England's well known landmarks which aired in this country. To answer this question we must delve into the beginnings of Edward's theatrical career.

Edward enjoyed fantasy and pretending very much as a child and was always a veracious reader. His first starring role was as himself, a precocious four year old, in the documentary "Royal Family". He continued his theatrical pursuits throughout his youth in a variety of school productions. As a performer in the Cambridge University Light Entertainment Society he received mixed reviews during and became a patron of the Cambridge Youth Theatre. During several summers he found another theatrical outlet at the Haddo Dramatic and Operatic Society. He graduated Cambridge in 1986 and after a brief stint in the Royal Marines, decided to pursue his theatrical ambition full time.

His first professional production came when he was 23 years of age - the ill fated "It's a Royal Knock Out" based on an old television show where contestants perform slapstick type stunts. Having been given a difficult time by the press upon his departure from the Marines, Edward would not allow them anywhere near the games which were performed outdoors. Instead the press were confined to a tent and forced to watch the events on a television screen provided. Edward also kept them waiting for the interview 'til past their deadline. They were not happy with him. When he finally appeared and they didn't rally round him, he threw a temper tantrum storming out without granting the interview they had waited all day for. He was raked over the coals not only for the undignified behavior he encouraged the royal family and their celebrity teammates to undergo during the contest, but also because of his rude treatment of the press. While the program raised over a million pounds for charity it was not a great start to a career that relies heavily on favorable press.

On February 6, 1988 Edward began work as a production assistant for Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Really Useful Theater Group in London. The press cried favoritism and Biddy Hayward, Edward's boss at Really Useful, claimed he'd be expected to make tea like any other junior team member. To show that he really was willing to earn his position, Edward showed up to his first day of work with a box of tea in hand. The press crucified him, dubbing him, among other things, "Royal Tea Boy". In 1990, after only two years, Edward left Really Useful with Biddy Hayward who was starting her own production company, Theater Division. Edward was now its Technical Director. The company folded on July 12, 1991. The press continued to lambaste Edward speaking with some of his colleagues who stated that he didn't know anything about theater. They believed that in order to learn you have to start at the bottom and work your way up and complained that he would never be able to make it to the top, as he always had to leave at critical times to carry out his official duties. In truth, the Queen allowed him his work in the public sector, but not at the expense of his royal duties.

Well, what's a man to do after such a string of bad luck? A confident, determined, wealthy one like Edward, would start his own company. With his father's contacts in the business world, Prince Edward designed a business plan and began looking for investors. He rented prime space in an upscale neighborhood and had designers and decorators create a very posh atmosphere for the offices of Ardent Productions. Again, the press derided him. This time for going so overboard to try to look the part. They painted Edward and his company a style over substance organization. Once again Edward went on the defensive. He made several statements that did not sit well and one that will still haunts him. In regard to his royal connections he stated, "In terms of access and understanding, I'm likely to get more cooperation. But you're not going to see a rush of royal programs from Ardent. That's not the premise at all."

Then he looked for work. He looked in England, in Europe and in Canada. He had no luck. No one wanted to take a chance on a well-financed prince who's only production credit was the disastrous "It's a Royal Knock-Out". Ardent ended its first year losing $739,500. Things were not looking good for Prince Edward or for Ardent.

Enter Desmond Wilcox and Mike Latham, partners and co-chairman of the Man Alive Group.* Desmond is a highly successful, well-respected television producer and interviewer who is Edward's opposite. Desmond left home at 15 and his journalistic career is a result of his graduation from the school of hard knocks. Mike Latham is also a producer and one of England's most experienced writers. Their Man Alive Group had rights to a story on the Duke of Windsor, as well as, Mohammed Al Fayed's permission to shoot some scenes at the Windsor's Paris home that he now owned. Desmond and Mike pitched the idea for "Edward on Edward" to Edward and were surprised by his wanting to play hardball. For unprecedented access to the royal library and archives Edward was reportedly to be given a "written by" credit and Ardent was to be given a "produced in association with" credit. The story goes that Edward promised what he could not deliver. Frustration built when access was not granted to the research material. Edward was not pleased with all the rewrites, as he did not appreciate being thought less capable a writer than Mike. It is also reported that Desmond's wife, veteran TV star Esther Rantzen, coached Edward in how to read a teleprompter and act naturally in front of the camera. When the production was successful, full credit went to Edward who was not gracious enough to share it. This coup gave him the credibility to earn other production opportunities, but caused a further loss of respect among his peers in the industry.

Enter the United States whose citizens generally find the royals an interesting novelty. Here we knew nothing of the animosity surrounding Edward and "his" production. Here the show and Edward sell well. Here he found the respect that he has been unable to attain in his own country - as his winning the Bette Davis Achievement Award proves. My wish for Edward - may his career be long enough and may he look back upon all the people who believed in him, mentored him and assisted him with gratitude. May he learn that being gracious is a sign of strength. May this lesson and future good works earn him the respect of his peers and the forgiveness of the press. Much continued success Edward, from your royal watching friend on the other side of the pond.

This week's mailbag was full of in-the-know royal watchers who caught me on a very important typo. I typed Edward VII when I actually meant Edward VIII. Also, a very sharp reader noted that Charles and the other members of Lord Louis Mountbatten's family always called him Dickie - not Louis. After submitting the column I wished that I had noted it in the same way that I do Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor. Sufficed to say, you are a very impressive group of readers who are making this experience a very positive one for me. I thank you very much for your continued input.

In next week's column I'd like to write about my favorite royal correspondents and their work. All the best,