Youth
Edward was born in 1964 and grew up in the decades that saw a tremendous change in England and the world. Prince Edward has always lived a dual existence - been a member of the royal family and following the strict rules that govern it and than living in the world of Britain in the 1960's and 1970's. Judy Parkinson describes that "he had always wanted to live a normal life, and yet he had always had a sense of his own royalty, a kind of inner commitment. He personifies a delicate balance between duty and personal ambition, public and private life." It was in his attempts to live these contradictions that the press failed to understand the complexity of Edward's personality.
Edward was born on Tuesday, 10 March 1964 in the Belgian suit at Buckingham Palace. The Duke of Edinburgh was present at the birth. Edward was named after his great grandfather Edward VIII. His other names were taken from his uncle-in-law, Anthony Armstrong-Jones, husband of Princess Margaret. Richard and Louis were in honour of the Mountbattens. Edward's birth came at a time in the Queen's reign where she felt more comfortable in her dual role as monarchy and mother to Princes Andrew and Edward. Prince Edward (b. 10 March 1964) was christened Edward Antony Richard Louis on 2 May 1964 in the Private Chapel, Windsor Castle, by the Dean of Windsor, Robert Woods. His godparents were: Prince Richard of Gloucester ( now Duke of Gloucester); the Duchess of Kent; his uncle the Earl of Snowdon; Princess George of Hanover; and Prince Louis of Hesse. Edward thus had a loving childhood where the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh made conscious attempts to be involved in his schooling and activities. Edward has always been rather isolated from his elder siblings. Prince Charles, fifteen years his senior, was remote in attitude. Princess Anne was close to Edward when he was young but age placed a distance between them. Although only four years separate Prince Andrew and Edward, the brothers are so different that in personality. Edward found company in his cousins, Sarah Armstrong - Jones, James Ogilvy and Helen Windsor, all born in 1964. The four were close friends but as they grew up thy began to live separate lives. As Edward began to his training for life in the royal spotlight, it is possible that Edward became envious of the normal lives his cousins were able to live.
Edward was first sent to Gibbs' pre- preparatory school in Kensington. This was followed by Heatherdown Preparatory School, near Windsor. It was here where Edward discovered that he was able to overcome his shyness as he took to the stage as Mole in Toad of Toad Hall at the age of 11. At Heatherdown, Edward began to come into his own. He made friends easily and was becoming an accomplished rugby player. At the age of 13, Edward began at Gordonstoun, Scotland. Gordonstoun was a different place than when Prince Charles had attended it. Unlike Charles, Edward thrived in the Scottish environment that placed emphasis on character development, rather that academic achievement. He shone on the stage where he acted and produced a number of smaller productions, as well as on the rugby field. Edward also headed the Air Training Corps at Gordonstoun. He took his Cadet Proficiency Gilding course at RAF Benson, Oxfordshire in 1980. He earned his private pilots license in 1982 in a Bulldog 2-seater piston-engine trainer. Edward graduated from Gordonstoun with 9 O-Levels and 3 A-Levels in English, History, and Law and Economics. He also achieved a S- Level in History.
During the holidays Edward attended Cowes week, a yachting festival, but the majority of his time was spend at Windsor, Balmoral, Sandringham and Gatcombe Park. Edward often went skiing with friends in Austria. He thus became a proficient skier, water skier and yachtsman. He became an avid fan of the James Bond movies. He also was well-read and eagerly picked up new novels in the school holidays. He would also organise discos for his cousins at Buckingham Palace, while it was the '70's. Edward's love of country sports saw him becoming a competent horseman. The Duke of Edinburgh himself taught Edward how to shot and the two would spend hours crawling among the weeds of Sandringham and Balmoral on shooting exhibition. It was these moments that developed a closeness between the Duke of Edinburgh and his youngest son.
It is the custom of the Royal family to sent their children to commonwealth countries during his gap year in 1982. Edward took up a position at Collegiate School, Wanganui in North Island, New Zealand. In December 1982 he journeyed across the Antarctic, visited Scott's shelter and magnetic South. He also saw frozen waterfalls and forests, while taken the opportunity to ski in the best conditions in the world.