As promised by Queen Elizabeth II more than twenty years ago, Prince Edward was recently presented with the title of Duke of Edinburgh by his brother, King Charles III, who thus respected the wishes of his parents.
On March 10, Prince Edward, fourth and last child of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, celebrated his 59th birthday. The opportunity for his older brother to give him a somewhat special gift, worthy of a sovereign. Indeed, Charles III presented on this occasion to the youngest of the siblings the title of Duke of Edinburgh. A title he had automatically inherited from his father on his death, being his eldest son, but which inevitably reverted to the Crown when Prince Charles succeeded his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, to the throne on September 8. 2022. On becoming King Charles III, William and Harry’s father saw his previous titles revert to the Crown and therefore become “redistributable”. His eldest son, William, had notably recovered his title of Prince of Wales in the process.
It will have been necessary to wait a few more months and the right opportunity for the one who was only Earl of Wessex since his marriage to finally become the Duke of Edinburgh that his father and mother wanted him to be. Because, as we recall Royal Stories, when he married Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999, Prince Edward had inherited – surprisingly enough for a child of a sovereign – a single earldom. Normally, the sovereign’s children obtain a ducal title instead. But at the time, Queen Elizabeth II had agreed with her son that he would eventually inherit the title of Duke of Edinburgh from his father.
“The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are proud to carry on the legacy of Prince Philip in promoting opportunities for young people of all backgrounds to enable them to reach their full potential,” he said soberly. was indicated in a press release from the Palace. Before Prince Edward, the title of Duke of Edinburgh had already been presented four times. The first time was in 1726 for Prince Frederick, who was none other than the eldest son of King George II. Then, in 1764, it was Prince William, brother of King George III, who was given the “common” title of Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh. Prince Alfred, who was the second son of Queen Victoria, then obtained this title in 1866. Finally, in 1947, Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, in turn received it.