Monarchy -
HRH Prince Edward 2
Edward
Wessex has certainly been taking a beating in the
Press lately and rightly so for it was his
company, Ardent Productions, who was the first
and only media to break the 'gentlemen's
agreement' between the Palace and the young
princes, William and Harry. On Saturday,
September 22nd, Prince William, assisted by his
father, Prince Charles, kept up their end of the
bargain by allowing members of the press follow
them around Scotland. Great photographs and sound
bites were taken of the student prince as he
shadowed his father on a day of royal duties,
which included a stop at Sighthill, a Glasgow
neighbourhood with a large population of asylum
seekers. A highlight of the tour was a stop at
the senior centre where Prince William reportedly
signed a 61 year old residents address book and
then asked, "Would you like my phone
number?" The following day photographers and
journalists feasted on the photo ops and quoted
answers to the standard questions graciously
offered by Prince William upon his arrival at St.
Andrews University where he will be studying Art
History. Everyone packed up Sunday night to leave
the Prince to peacefully pursue his studies -
everyone that is except the freelance film crew
of Ardent Productions, Edward Wessex's company.
Apparently, the University asked them to leave on
Monday and they claimed they were there making a
tourist film about Fife. Then the stories and
allegations began to fly. According to some
stories, the crew claimed to have permission from
St. James Palace. Then it was reported that
Ardent told St. James Palace they had received
permission from St. Andrews. On Wednesday,
September 26th they were ordered off the
University's property. The following day it was
reported that the crew had tried to bribe a group
of students with take out food and according the
Sunday People plying them with wine. They then
asked them to pretend it was the future and
imagine what they would be saying about the way
in which Prince William had adapted to life at
St. Andrews. One of the students claimed that the
photographers received a call from Edward during
the meal. "Eddie said there would probably
be a bit of fuss in the papers but there was
nothing to worry about," claimed one.
Friday the Mirror ran stories of Charles reaming
Edward and calling him many un-royal like names.
The Sun ran an article titled "The Weasel of
Wessex" in which they outline the series of
lies they claim the Earl and Ardent had been
telling. The Times was a bit more civil with an
article titled "Prince Charles tells Edward
to Apologize". The tabloids were having what
was described as a 'feeding frenzy' at the
expense of the Edward who has not always shown
them respect. Andrew Neil, Rector of St. Andrews,
stated, "We knew when we were doing that,
that somebody would break it as some stage. But
for it to be broken by a company owned by his own
uncle . . . well, you just couldn't make it
up." Indeed!
Under pressure from all sides about its apparent
disregard of the gentlemen's agreement Ardent
released a statement, which read in part,
"It unreservedly apologises if the activity
of the production team has put those agreed
arrangements in doubt." Mr. Neil's response?
"Both students and staff are worried about
the half-hearted tone and grudging nature of the
apology - and the fact that it did not come from
Edward," he said. "The apology is
described as unreserved, but it's not unreserved
at all - it's grudging."
Just when it looks likes
things couldn't get any worse, enter the self
proclaimed PR maven, Sophie Wessex. Sophie's
intervention, according to the grapevine, has
caused further humiliation for her husband and
his family. It is reported that she attempted to
order Ardent Producer Paul Watson to apologize
during a heated discussion claiming, "You
have to understand bigger things are at issue
here. Edward, after all, is a member of the Royal
Family." She also attempted to exonerate her
husband by claiming Prince Charles' reaction to
the 'harmless' tape was 'over the top'. One
article claimed that HM has advised her 'gaffe
prone' daughter-in-law to keep quiet.
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