Prince Edward ‘lost his temper and stormed out’ after royal charity show ‘disaster’

Prince Edward is said to have "stormed out" after his staged show, titled 'It’s a Royal Knockout', ended in disaster.

The TV show, which aired in 1987, saw members of the Royal Family compete against celebrities such as John Travolta, Cliff Richard, and Gary Linekar, in a series of challenges.

As well as Edward himself, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson also starred in the show.

Speaking on a Channel 5 documentary in 2019 titled 'Paxman on the Queen’s Children', actress Toyah Willcox spoke of Edward's "disastrous" reaction to a group of journalists on set.

Ms Willcox said: "I believe, for one second in time, it turned, there was a tipping point. Prince Edward didn't want the press milling around and he went into the press tent and just said 'no, you guys are staying here'. The whole atmosphere just flipped."

In an episode of Channel 5's 'Now That's Embarrassing: The 80s', the actress recalled how the journalists who turned up responded with "nervous laughter" when he asked what they thought of the show. It also ended with Edward storming out - with the royal also sarcastically thanking the reporters for their enthusiasm.

Ms Willcox added: "They were hot, they were hungry and they had not seen anything in the flesh so they didn’t give him any reaction.

"They just dissed him and he lost his temper. That is the moment that is remembered of the whole event."

Also reflecting on the show, TV presenter Vanessa Feltz said: "He [Edward] wanted the press to big him up and tell him how fabulous it had been, but it hadn’t been fabulous.

"It had been embarrassing, it had been a monstrous carbuncle on the entire history of the Royal Family."

Prince Edward and his wife, the Duchess of Edinburgh have increasing become two of the most popular members of the Royal Family.

Edward and Sophie have two children, daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 20, and son James, Earl of Wessex, 16.