How Princess Diana And Prince Charles Avoided A ‘Dangerous’ PR Disaster Involving Other Royals

Princess Diana and Prince Charles didn’t always see eye to eye. But there was one instance wherein the royal couple agreed on one important thing.

In 1987, Prince Edward produced the controversial show “It’s A Royal Knockout.” The dad of two also enlisted some members of the royal family — Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson and Princess Anne.

Prince Edward thought about producing the show in an attempt to modernize the royal family, but his plans backfired. And even though the program managed to earn a huge sum of money for charity, “It’s A Royal Knockout” destroyed the image of the royal family further.

While speaking with Express, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said that the Earl of Wessex asked Prince Charles and Princess Diana to participate on the show. However, they refused to be a part of it. Fitzwilliams said that the Prince and Princess of Wales were fortunate to have made the right decision.

“The event, created and organized by Prince Edward who has become one of the most conscientious of royals in recent years, became a byword for shameless vulgarity and sheer idiocy,” Fitzwilliams said. “That it happened at all showed appalling judgment on all concerned. It is extraordinary that it was not stopped. It was supposed to make the royal family trendy but was a harbinger of horrors to come in the 1990s,” he added.

Prince Edward, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and Fergie all led their respective teams and the different charities that they were representing. The four royals wore ludicrous costumes, and they also participated in obstacle courses.

“It became notorious as they had to flounce about in utterly ludicrous costumes, throw things and so forth,” Fitzwilliams shared. “The absence of dignity among the royals was what horrified the audience. There was general amazement that members of the royal family could have so gratuitously made fools of themselves before a huge television audience.”

In the Channel 5 documentary “Scandals At The Palace,” royal correspondent Emily Andrews said that the show incensed the Queen Mother. The late royal also saw the program as a PR disaster because she made it a point to improve the image of the royal family, and everything was destroyed instantly following the release of the program.