Prince Edward, the Queen’s youngest son, and Sophie Rhys-Jones were married in 1999, and are the parents of Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn. Although not as high-profile as his siblings Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne, Edward has caused some embarrassing moments for the Royal Family. He reportedly “incensed” the Queen Mother over his ‘It’s a Royal Knockout’ TV flop, and Prince Charles branded him an “idiot” after a huge row” involving filming at Prince William’s university. 

Channel 5 documentary “Scandals at the Palace”, which aired last month, delved into another scandal which saw Edward and Sophie the victims of a “fake sheik” undercover reporter. 

In 2001, Mazher Mahmoud allegedly lured Sophie to a meeting under the pretence of securing a lucrative PR contract. 

Royal correspondent Emily Andrews explained: “In this particular instance he wanted to employ Sophie’s company for PR, so they met on a number of occasions and Sophie was rather indiscreet.”

In the secretly-recorded tapes that resulted,  Sophie criticised Cherie Blair, and then-Prime Minister Tony Blair. 

Daily Mail editor Richard Kay added: “She said the Royal Family didn’t like him because he was too presidential.

“She also made some unflattering remarks about William Hague, who was then the leader of the opposition.”

The countess also spoke about Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, who were not then married, saying that the public would not like Camilla to become Queen. 

Royal historian Richard Fitzwilliams continued: “There’s absolutely no question that this was a traumatic time for Sophie.”

However, the documentary narrator continues, “Sophie and the royal household tried desperately to contain the scandal, which made it much worse.”

Mr Fitzwilliams explained: “First, the discovery that this had been a sting led to the attempt to negotiate with the News Of the World for its removal, and the substitution with an interview by her about Edward and other matters.”

The exclusive interview appeared in exchange for the fake sheikh revelations not being published, however the tapes were leaked to a rival newspaper. 

Mr Fitzwilliams continued: “What appeared was firstly, under the headline My Edward Is Not Gay, a story in the News of the World, and the fake sheikh story in the Mail on Sunday.

The whole thing was catastrophically handled

Richard Fitzwilliams

“The entire transcript of the fake sheikh story then appeared in the News of the World the subsequent weekend.

“The whole thing was catastrophically handled.”

Ms Andrews added: “At the heart of it, the real scandal was the perception that she was trading on her royal connections.

“For that, she had to give up her company.”

Sophie stepped down from the PR firm she founded,  R-JH Public relations, in the wake of the scandal. 

She released a statement that read: “I am deeply distressed by the carrying out of an entrapment operation on me and my business.

“But I also much regret my own misjudgement in succumbing to that subterfuge.”

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