The strained relationship between the Prince of Wales and his youngest brother Prince Edward burst into a full-blown royal row yesterday. Already “incandescent” with rage over attempts by a camera crew from Edward’s Ardent production company to film Wills’s first week at St Andrews, Charles is now said to be infuriated by his brother’s response to the situation. After an irate Charles had telephoned his brother to demand he issue an apology, the Earl of Wessex’s television company issued two statements saying: “Ardent had no wish to breach the spirit of the arrangements which had been put in place to protect the privacy of Prince William and all the students at St Andrews." The company went on to say that it “unreservedly apologises if the activity of the production team has put those agreed arrangements in doubt.” It also said, however: “For the record the filming at St Andrews on Wednesday by Ardent Productions was arranged with the full knowledge and cooperation of the university press office three weeks ago.” The statement also went on to claim that “at no time did the crew attempt to film Prince William.”The university has steadfastly denied that any permission had been granted.
It is understood that the situation was worsened by a call made by Edward to St James’s Palace in an attempt to persuade his brother’s staff to put pressure on the university to back Ardent’s version of events. When he heard of the Earl's actions a furious Charles placed a second call to his brother. “He was boiling with blind rage,” said a palace aide. “He told Edward he couldn’t believe he had been so idiotic, and accused him of making the situation worse by lying about it.”
Relations between the two siblings have been chilly since the Countess of Wessex became embroiled in the false sheik scandal which brought controversy over royals using their status to drum up business to the fore. The Prince of Wales has made no secret of his belief that members of the royal family are either in the “royal business or private business”, and that the two cannot be mixed.
Although in the past Buckingham Palace has stepped in to help smooth over past gaffes committed by the Wessexes, thus far the Palace has kept silent.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
