Why does Prince Edward garner less interest from the press and public compared to the other senior royals?

[refantazio]

Is it partly because he's QEII's youngest child, and also that he hasn't really done anything controversial during his life? I'm too young to remember his childhood and formative years - did he get more attention back then?

I thought there was a chance he might assume greater prominence as one of the most senior royals, particularly with the events of the last few years - his nephew the Duke of Sussex departing as a working royal, both his parents passing away, KC struggling with cancer, and AMW now completely ostracised from the family. That doesn't appear to have happened though.

We fund the RF & Edward is just not good value - he is dull. He gave out my DD's gold DofE & we were all disappointed when we saw he was to be the royal - zero glamour or fun. Everyone would far rather have had Harry - and we don't even pay for him now. I know the RF board forelock tuggers despise H&M, but for me they are far better value than boring Edward, the charisma vacuum.

I really like Sophie. I think he married very well and they've protected their children maturely and sensibly. I think Sophie was very close to QEII and Lady Louise seemed to really connect with the previous Duke of Edinburgh.

He seems to be happy to let his siblings take all the attention. Never really remember much about him at all growing up . He was interested in the theatre but I guess it really wasn't feasible to actually be an actor. Then tried to get involved in behind the scenes but had a few disasters, didn't make money and couldn't borrow from RF funds .

Further from the throne and his wife doesn't court attention.

He does a lot of charitable stuff away from.the cameras. I think he's a decent man so media isnt interested.

@Hedjwitch
But what good is that? Charities need publicity to succeed.

He gave out my DD's gold DofE & we were all disappointed when we saw he was to be the royal

It's a bit unreasonable to complain that the Duke of Edinburgh was the royal giving out his own reward ...

They don't receive much press attention because they get on with their job, are not in the direct line of succession, and don't court attention with publicity stunts like some others.
A recent press comment: If the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were thrashing around the world flogging £30 jars of marmalade to gullible housewives, complaining about being pushed onto a dog bowl or making ladybird-shaped sandwiches for imaginary friends, we’d all be writing about them instead.

He's gone from being 3rd in line to the throne at birth to 15th as royal family has grown . Once William and Harry's children have families of their own he'll be even more removed.
I'm old enough to remember hearing about Princess Margaret's children. Now they rarely get a mention.

It's a bit unreasonable to complain that the Duke of Edinburgh was the royal giving out his own reward ...
Oh come on, Edward has nothing to do with the DofE award apart from the name. No young person (or most older ones) gives a toot about meeting him,

They don't receive much press attention because they get on with their job
What job? They are basically celebrities we pay for, and they are not good at it. The RF as an institution has outlived any usefulness it arguably had. We can choose our own celebs now and it is up to us if we want to put our hands in our pockets and fund them. Celebs can do all the charity stuff that is the only argument that can really be made for the RF - and far more effectively. If they turn out to be egregious we stop funding them. Why are we paying for these nonentities to live on massive estates?

They’re just a bit boring. The whole royal family are paparazzi/soap opera fodder - a bit like the Kardashians but with bigger jewels. Sophie and Eddie don’t really buy into it. My DS, with is computer game player, would call them ‘non-playing characters’. They're about, but they’re dull and don’t have a playing part.

he doesnt have the looks

i saw a clip on TV of an an event when sophie did a triathlon, or something, she arrived on her bicycle, she greeted her children warmly but was quite unfriendly to Edward, which is very sad.

Edward was the first person she hugged on finishing the DoE challenge - didn’t appear unfriendly to me!
www.instagram.com/reel/DPDavAzgLE7/?igsh=cDk1dHlycjB3N3Nl

thanks @myrtleWilson
but that is not what I am talking about.

why would you think you could argue my own experience?

He doesn’t even seem royal tbh.

They’re hardworking and reliable, and not living a showy, showbiz, celebrity
lifestyle. I really respect them.

120 rooms to rattle around in though...

Your "experience" was watching a clip on tv, nothing more. Please do share the said clip if it was something other than the silver challenge. Am not aware of the DoE having undertaken a triathlon that was filmed, but am sure you will be able to add to my education.

When he did the DofE gold event, my son had no clue who he was. I asked him afterwards how old he thought he was ‘er, 75?’ he said, and this was a while back. 😂 Tbf, he does look and act far older than he is.

I remember watching some documentary about QEII that showed a reception for Lech Walesa, the leader of Solidarity, the Polish union that brought down the Commie regime in Poland. A brave and extremely intelligent man - a giant of the 20th century in fact; the documentary showed the queen introducing Edward, "And this is my son, Edwuhd", in her clipped accent. The two men shook hands. The contrast couldn't have been more stark.

It's not at all unreasonable to be disappointed to have an award you worked bloody hard for given to you by a man with all the charisma of a tall glass of cold water, wearing a gray double breasted suit.

I note the phrase "gullible housewives" in your quote. I thought that kind of language was unacceptable back in the 1980s, but apparently it still has its appeal.

He may have purposely gone for this role. Before he got married, the press showed plenty of interest in his love life. Or lack of, it was often implied he was gay (back then it was okay to do that). I think when he met Sophie, it was a relief to get away from that narrative.

I just looked up pics of him when he was young. I was surprised to see he was really handsome!

I really admire the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, they have been reliable and hardworking for many years now, they should be given more credit for the work they do. I don’t think they’re boring, they have their own style and personalities and are supportive to the more senior royals, what’s wrong with that?

Reliable and hardworking is not relevant any more. People want to know how much they pay for their 120 room house.