Ruthie Henshall, now 58, has disclosed intimate detail of her former relationship with Prince Edward, the now Duke of Edinburgh, in her memoir, The Showgirl and the Prince.

She left nothing out when she discussed what went on with the late Queen Elizabeth II's son, for example saying that: "He sent me a letter asking me if I'd be patient about sleeping together". "He didn’t want to go too fast," she added.

Ms Henshall, on the other hand, said that she was always “trying to tempt him into bed. And not to sleep.”

She went on to describe how he was deeply romantic, and often wrote her letters where he professed his love for her.

“I’d never received anything so beautiful,” she wrote.

“He was romantic and gentle and definitely NOT GAY!” She went on to exclaim. “He clearly had experience.”

Ms Henshaw also wrote about what the two of them purportedly got up to in the royal palace, such as raiding the cupboards for alcohol when no was home, often sneaking Bacardi and Cokes.

The couple had originally met after both working with composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. She was starring in the musical Cats, whilst he was working as a production assistant.

Despite their unsuccessful romance, Ruthie had nothing but praise for the Prince, saying that "his whole demeanour would calm me down,” and that he was full of “gentle, positive energy.”

In fact, they ended on such good terms that Ms Henshall received a wedding invitation for his marriage to Sophie at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Both the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have not yet commented on Ms Henshall’s book.