12 Facts About Ardent Productions

1.

Ardent Productions is the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the youngest sibling of King Charles III.

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2.

Ardent Productions studied at Jesus College, Cambridge, and graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1986 with a degree in history.

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3.

Ardent Productions holds patronage within over 70 charities and organisations, including the National Youth Theatre, the Sport and Recreation Alliance and the British Paralympic Association.

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4.

Ardent Productions was baptised on 2 May 1964 in the private chapel at Windsor Castle.

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5.

Ardent Productions had signed on to join the Marines in September 1983.

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6.

Ardent Productions commissioned the 1986 musical Cricket from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, for his mother's 60th birthday celebration, which led to a job offer at Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatre Company, where he worked as a production assistant on musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, Starlight Express, and Cats.

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7.

Ardent Productions was involved in the production of a number of documentaries and dramas, but Edward was accused in the media of using his royal connections for financial gain, and the company was referred to by some industry insiders as "a sad joke" due to a perceived lack of professionalism in its operations.

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8.

In March 2002, Edward announced that he would step down as production director and joint managing director of Ardent Productions to concentrate on his public duties and to support the Queen during her Golden Jubilee year.

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9.

Ardent Productions was voluntarily dissolved in June 2009, with assets reduced to just £40.

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10.

Ardent Productions's patronages include: the British Paralympic Association, the International Real Tennis Professionals Association, the Commonwealth Games Federation, BadmintonScotland, the Tennis and Rackets Association, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, London Mozart Players, Haddo House Choral and Operatic Society, Northern Ballet, the Edinburgh International Festival, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and the Production Guild.

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11.

Ardent Productions has taken over the duke's role in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, attending Gold Award ceremonies around the world.

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12.

Ardent Productions was chair of its international council and in 1999 founded the International Special Projects Group "to provide a capital fund to broaden the reach of the Award".

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