CRAIG BROWN: Why Edward’s the prince of very foolish walks

1 Prince Edward has simply celebrated his sixtieth birthday. Studies of an early faculty {photograph} counsel he’s the seventh boy from the fitting within the second row, although some historians argue that he’s the third boy from the left within the entrance row. It is difficult to make certain.

2 He feels at house in a go well with and tie, however is simply as pleased sporting a go well with and not using a tie if the invitation suggests ‘good/informal’. For enjoyable at house, he favours a pair of corduroys.

3 He is so intelligent that he managed to realize a spot at Cambridge University with simply two Ds and a C in his A-levels. He initially utilized to learn ‘Sums’ however when informed this course was not obtainable, he plumped for a joint honours diploma in including up and taking away.

4 At Cambridge, he joined the Light Entertainment Society. He beloved entertaining his fellow members together with his model of Monty Python’s Ministry of Silly Walks sketch, although he was discouraged from performing it on stage on the grounds that the viewers won’t discover it amusing.

Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh on the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey right now 

He has simply celebrated his sixtieth birthday and research of an early faculty {photograph} counsel he’s the seventh boy from the fitting within the second row

He managed to realize a spot at Cambridge University with simply two Ds and a C in his A-levels. When he was there he joined the Light Entertainment society 

5 Like his mom, the late Queen, Edward loves nothing higher than tackling a jigsaw puzzle. ‘The factor I really like about jigsaws,’ he says, ‘is the way in which they match collectively.’

6 Two years in the past, you have been three locations behind him in a queue on the grocery store with out realising it. He was shopping for a packet of easy-peeler satsumas, a pint of semi-skimmed milk and a packet of Rolos.

7 As a senior member of the Royal Family, he’s an skilled conversationalist, comfortable with anybody, excessive or low. At a Palace reception for Henry Kissinger, he ‘broke the ice’ by asking the worldwide statesman if he had come far.

8 An adept comedian performer, he is ready to snigger at himself. ‘I did probably the most hilarious factor yesterday, or was it the day earlier than yesterday?’ was how he started an after-dinner speech to the Royal Association of Retail Outlets three weeks in the past. Once the laughter had died down, he went on to say that he thought he had locked himself out of his automotive — however then he discovered the keys in his proper jacket pocket. ‘All the time I had been trying in my left trouser pocket! Next, I’ll neglect my very own head!!’ he concluded, to a lot mirth.

9 Edward and his bride, Sophie, wished their wedding ceremony to be as casual as doable, so that they requested that the horses pulling their State Coach ought to be permitted to put on their manes any-old-how, relatively than plaited in a proper vogue. Their company, too, have been allowed to return extra casually dressed. However, the Queen Mother refused to put on denims.

He beloved entertaining his fellow members together with his model of Monty Python’s Ministry of Silly Walks sketch

Prince Edward together with his bride Sophie at thier wedding ceremony on June 19, 1999

They wished their wedding ceremony to be extra relaxed and allowed company to put on informal garments 

10 Sophie offered Edward with a pocket watch as a marriage reward. He nonetheless retains it with him always. ‘If you need a time-piece to maintain in your pocket, then a pocket watch can are available in jolly helpful,’ he enthuses.

11 His favorite tipple is water. ‘It’s very thirst-quenching,’ he says. ‘And it goes nicely with different issues.’

12 Two weeks in the past, you did not recognise him when he was in a seat simply throughout the aisle from you in a railway carriage. He was that particular person on the cell phone who stated, ‘Well, that is it’, ‘If it is not one factor, it is one other’, and, ‘Hey-ho — swings and roundabouts’.

13 Edward and Sophie dwell within the 120-room Bagshot Park within the Surrey countryside. ‘It’s truly not fairly as huge because it sounds,’ he says, ‘as a result of fairly a number of of the rooms are for employees and so forth. I’d say fewer than 100 of them are what one may describe as ‘one’s personal.’ ‘

14 Over the previous weeks, he has been pleased to ‘step in’ for royal duties whereas the King and the Princess of Wales have been indisposed. Recent top-level engagements have included a go to to a day-care centre on the outskirts of Hemel Hempstead and the opening of a roundabout on the A11 simply exterior Norwich. ‘The beauty of roundabouts,’ he stated in a speech earlier than reducing the ribbon, ‘is that they hasten the stream of site visitors whereas permitting automobiles a alternative of simple exits from the principle street.’