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Woman & Home
Lifestyle
Jack Slater

Prince Edward wanted two wives 'in a perfect world' - and the reason is actually heart-wrenching

A comp image with Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward (L) taken at the Royal Windsor Flower Show, June 2026, and Ruthie Henshall (R) at the National Lottery's Big Night of Musicals 2025 .

The King's youngest brother, Prince Edward, reportedly once expressed his wish to have two wives "in a perfect world". Opening up in her memoir, The Showgirl and the Prince, which reflects on the pair’s relationship between 1988 and 1993, his ex-partner Ruthie Henshall described his confession and detailed the reason for it.

According to the West End star, Edward said he’d have two wives - "one for the job, and one for the woman you loved". Ruthie added that this was "because you wouldn’t want the woman you love [to go] through the job", alluding to the harsh reality behind the idea of a fairytale-esque royal romance.

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