Rare letter from the Queen gushes over Prince Edward

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published 19 March 2022

A rare letter from the Queen which gushes about her youngest child, Prince Edward, has been unearthed.

Prince Edward celebrated his 58th birthday last week, and a letter from the Queen to her midwife detailing his early days has been unearthed.
The letter, which dates back to 1964, reveals her soft spot for the Earl of Wessex.
This follows royal news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have had to scrap the first big engagement of their Caribbean tour.

Her Majesty had been monarch for 12 years by the time Edward was born and as an experienced Queen, she had more time to devote to her children. So, previously unheard of in the halls of Buckingham Palace, she integrated Edward into her role rather than leaving him with nannies.

The monarch's direct involvement in Edward’s childhood has made for a close bond and the rare letter from the Queen to her midwife highlights her soft spot for the Earl.

Written from Eastbourne, Sussex, the letter to 'Rowie,' her midwife Helen Rowe, reads, “I am terribly sorry we never got in touch with you before you left London."

“Mabel was ill in bed when you wrote, and I confess I misread your letter in a great hurry and remembered the wrong day you put down, and when I was away at Arundel last week, I suddenly was reminded of your letter and of course it was too late by then!"

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“The baby is wonderful — good as gold, trying to sit up and weighing 15 lbs.12!

“He smiles and giggles at everyone, and makes everyone happy! Charles, I’m thankful to say, is better but very frail as yet.

“I hope we see you when we return in October.”

The Queen's eldest child, Prince Charles was suffering from a bout of pneumonia when Edward was born, having fallen ill during a camping trip.

Edward, his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and their two children — Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and James, Viscount Severn, 14 — are said to be particularly close with the monarch, having spent a lot of time with her over the past couple of years.

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Robyn is a celebrity and entertainment journalist and editor with over eight years experience in the industry. As well as contributing regular to woman&home, she also often writes for Woman, Woman's Own, Woman's Weekly and The Sun.