Since every book about the Royals written since 1986 mentions this, I can't very well ignore it, as much as I'd love to and as much as I'm sure Edward would love for me to.
I want to ignore it.
I really wish I could. But I can't, just as Edward can't.
So without further ado, may I present to you the truth behind It's A Royal Knock-Out.
After Edward left the Royal Marines in January of 1987 (see link above), he spent a few months trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. He knew he wanted a career in show-business, but the question was, how to get going?
It's A Royal Knock-Out was Edward's first big attempt at show-biz. He probably wishes he'd never come up with the idea. But he did. And you know what? Like everything, it was a learning experience and those are invaluable.
Of course, it all stemmed from the fact that, as a young teenager, Edward loved the TV show It's A Knock-Out. And, unfortunately, what was funny in the 1970's just wasn't funny anymore, ten years later, when Edward revived it for a live charity event.
Edward, only 23 at the time, organized the entire thing, with the help of friends Tim Hastie-Smith, James Baker and Abel Hadden. Also on the organizing committee was photographer Jayne Fincher, a friend of Edward's through his ex-girlfriend Shelley Whitborn. Jayne says of Edward, "Edward was in charge of everything and what surprised me was what a good leader he was, without being bossy. He was an excellent motivator and good at getting the right people together. What I found particularly fascinating was how artistic he was. He did a lot of sketches himself...He was very meticulous even down to the costume details..." (Gibbs & Smith, p. 113).
Four members of the Royal Family captained teams of celebrities in a series of "knock-out" games. And each team supported a different charity. The Prince and Princess of Wales had nothing do do with the event, but Prince Edward, Princess Anne, and the Duke and Duchess of York all too part, even if it was only on the sidelines, as the Queen had not given them permission to actually participate in the games themselves.
A big problem occured because the Press were banned from the event. Jayne Fincher was the only one allowd to take photographs. It's unclear if this was Edward's doing or if his advisors were behind it, but unfortunately, after the day was over, Edward himself gave the press the story the event itself couldn't give them. In the process, he shot himself and the event in the foot.
It's a Royal Knock-Out raised over one million pounds for charity. If you want more details...like just exactly what Edward did...you know the drill--buy the book.
That's it. That's all I'm going to say on it. Now, I'm moving on.
'Cause that's what Edward did, even if the subject still ticks him off to this day.