The Earl and Countess of Wessex spoke to Sky News’ Rhiannon Mills about Queen Elizabeth II’s ahead of her 90th birthday in 2016. Edward explained how they like to ride in the car behind the Queen to observe the reactions of the crowd. He said: “Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best entertainments is being in the car behind the Queen’s car, because that’s when you see all the reactions, especially in places when they’re not expecting to see the Queen – that’s even better.”

Sophie chimed in, admitting: “And we open the window just a little bit so we can hear what people are saying.”

They laughed at the cheeky revelation, with Edward joking: “It’s terrible, because they’re probably all watching this!

“So it’s not true, really, but it is quite fun watching people’s reactions.” 

He added that the people in the cars behind the Queen “have a great time”.

Prince Edward, 55, is the Queen’s youngest child, 15 years younger than Prince Charles.

He married Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999, who has been described as the Queen’s favourite daughter-in-law. 

The pair have two children – Lady Louise Windsor, 15, and James, Viscount Severn, 11.

The Countess revealed how Louise “had no concept” that her grandmother was the Queen until she started school and other children told her.

The young Louise apparently said to her mother: “I don’t understand what they mean.” 

Edward and Sophie both work as full-time royals after they quit their businesses in 2002.

Previously, Sophie ran a PR firm, but became embroiled in a scandal after a media sting operation exposed that she had reportedly been using her royal connections to further the business. 

There were also accusations that she had insulted the Royal Family and a number of politicians, and she reportedly sent apology letters to Tony Blair, William Hague and Prince Charles.

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However, the Palace released a statement saying the reported comments were “selective, distorted and in several cases, flatly untrue”.

Nevertheless, she stepped down from her role at the PR company to take up royal duties full time. 

Edward ran a production company for a number of years making documentaries and dramas.

The company’s output had a mixed reaction, with some documentaries selling well, but other aspects attracting criticism – it was claimed Edward was exploiting his royal connections and that he invaded Prince William’s privacy while he was at university.

However, both the Earl and Countess of Wessex now dedicate their lives to royal duties and raising their children. 

Asked whether he was given any instructions as to how to conduct himself during walkabouts, Edward revealed he had to guess. 

Recalling the first time, he said: “I remember vividly the awful realisation that we were going to have to walk through this corridor of people because the cars – I couldn’t even see the cars, they were around the corner – and our parents just set off and started talking to people.

“And I thought: ‘Well, I can either walk down the middle like a complete lemon or…’

“I think my brother was there as well, so we said: ‘You go that side, I’ll go this side’, but there was absolutely no instruction whatsoever.

“I think the only piece of advice I was given was: ‘Don’t treat it as a receiving line, so don’t start shaking hands, because once you have shaken on person’s hand you are completely stuck, you have to shake everyone’s hand.’”

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