Prince Edward Finally Tells It to the Marines: He’s Out

Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II, defied family tradition and resigned today from the Royal Marines after four months of a grueling one-year training course.

A terse statement from Buckingham Palace said: “Prince Edward is leaving the marines with great regret but has concluded that he does not wish to make the service his long-term career. An announcement about his future plans is not expected for some time.”

Edward, 22, fifth in line to the throne, reportedly had been under strong pressure from his family to complete the officers’ training program and keep up the longstanding royal tradition of military service.

Reporters on the royal beat said Prince Philip told his son he should stay with the marines.

Philip “stamped on Edward’s hopes of taking up a new career in the theater” during stormy weekend talks at Sandringham House in eastern England, where the family is staying, the Sun newspaper reported.

Edward took part in amateur theatricals at school and Cambridge University and obviously enjoyed it.

The decision, one of the most important of the young prince’s life, has made front-page headlines since the Sun first reported Wednesday that Edward wanted to quit.

The Sun said he found the training “too tough and demanding,” but Edward had been ranked in the top six of his group of 40 trainees.

Like most members of the Royal Family, Edward is heavily subsidized by British taxpayers, receiving about $30,000 a year. As an acting lieutenant he was paid about $12,000.

By resigning, he must refund the marines the $12,000 to $15,000 he received in financial support during his officer cadet program at Cambridge University, where he graduated last June.