Prince Edward

King Charles gave his youngest brother Prince Edward a new royal title for his 59th birthday, naming him the Duke of Edinburgh, a title that formerly ...

However, following Prince Philip's death in 2021, the title went to his eldest son Charles. Prince Edward and Sophie were also the two royals who most often stepped in to take over many of the late Duke of Edinburgh's duties towards the end of his life, representing him at various events and award ceremonies such as the one he founded for the Duke of Edinburgh volunteering program for young people. In a statement regarding the announcement, Buckingham Palace wrote, “His Majesty The King has been pleased to confer the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar, on the occasion of His Royal Highness’s 59th birthday. The title will be held by Prince Edward for His Royal Highness’s lifetime.” It went on to explain that, “The Dukedom was last created for Prince Philip in 1947, upon his marriage to Princess Elizabeth, who held the title of Duchess of Edinburgh before acceding to the throne in 1952. In 1999, when Edward and his wife were given the title of Earl and Countess of Wessex, Buckingham Palace even noted in the announcement, “The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales have also agreed that the Prince Edward should be given the Dukedom of Edinburgh in due course, when the present title now held by the Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown.” Because of this, Edward's son, James, Viscount Severn, has become the Earl of Wessex, the title given to Edward upon his marriage to his wife Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999.