Prince Edward won't donate blood

LONDON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Britain's Prince Edward says he never has, and never will, donate blood despite the fact his wife's life was saved by a transfusion.

Asked during an official visit to the West of Scotland Blood Transfusion Center in Glasgow if he had ever donated, he replied, "No, I haven't, for a number of reasons which I am not going to go into."

The 39-year-old later encouraged the public not to follow his example, London's The Mirror reported Wednesday.

"Anyone who has ever thought about donating blood should not think twice because of the thousands of people that they are helping," Edward said.

His wife Sophie, 38, lost pints of blood before giving birth to premature daughter Louise by emergency Caesarean last November. Both recovered fully.

The queen mother also had a transfusion -- the first royal ever to do so -- more than three years ago to treat anemia.

A Buckingham Palace source said members of the royal family did not donate blood because of concerns it could be exploited or sold.