As the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Prince Edward likely felt the weight of expectation upon him while growing up. In fact, the late Queen reportedly disapproved of one of Edward's life choices pretty severely, which can't have been easy to deal with.
In January 1987, Prince Edward decided to quit the Royal Marines, having enlisted just four months prior. At the time, emphasis was placed on the fact that Edward's "qualms were not physical" when it came to a career in the Marines, per The Guardian. A statement from Buckingham Palace revealed that, following "much consideration," Prince Edward "concluded that he does not wish to make the service his long-term career." The Guardian also reported that Edward would possibly pursue "a back-room career in the performing arts, perhaps in television or in the theater."
