Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, passed away on April 9, 2021. Shortly after his passing, the Earl and Countess of Wessex went on a grief tour, giving interviews about how hard Philip’s death was for them and how they were looking forward to taking over the Edinburgh ducal title. The DoE title had been promised to Prince Edward for years, with QEII even making a special announcement about her wish and Philip’s wish for Edward to have the Edinburgh title once Philip passed away. The thing is, once Philip died, the title went to his first-born son, then Prince Charles. Charles said “no way Jose, I’m not giving this title to Ed.” Charles was also pissed about the Wessexes’ “obvious” PR campaign. When Charles became king, he apparently told Edward and Sophie that they weren’t getting the DoE. Then, in January, he had a change of heart. Suddenly, he softened on the idea. And now here we are – today is Edward’s 59th birthday, and as a gift, King Charles has made his youngest brother the Duke of Edinburgh. Sophie is finally a duchess, y’all.
King Charles has conferred the title of Duke of Edinburgh on his youngest brother, the Earl of Wessex, on the occasion of his 59th birthday, honouring the wishes of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
The title will be held for the lifetime of Prince Edward and means his son, Viscount Severn, now becomes Earl of Wessex.
Buckingham Palace announced the news in a busy week for royal titles, in which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirm their children will use the titles of “prince” and “princess”.
A palace statement said: “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.
“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. The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are proud to continue Prince Philip’s legacy of promoting opportunities for young people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential.”
The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will be in Edinburgh later today where they will attend a reception to mark the first year of conflict in Ukraine.
Edward was promised his late father’s title more than 20 years ago on his marriage to Sophie Rhys-Jones in June 1999 when the Queen made him Earl of Wessex and Buckingham Palace announced he would in time become Duke of Edinburgh.
There was some talk that Charles would wait until Edward’s 60th birthday to give him the DoE title. I wonder what changed? Perhaps someone finally convinced Charles that it looked incredibly petty to deny Edward and Sophie the title after all this time, especially because Charles was going against his mother’s express wish, which she put in writing.
Now, reportedly, there are caveats built into this gift. The DoE title is only Edward’s for the length of his life and it will not be inherited by his son James, Lord Severn, who will actually go by the Earl of Wessex now, I think? When Edward passes away, the DoE title reverts back to the crown, and the title will likely eventually be passed down to one of Prince William’s children.
🎉 Wishing the new Duke of Edinburgh a very Happy Birthday today!
The King has conferred the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon his brother, Prince Edward, on his 59th birthday.
🔗https://t.co/Yxe8lDc3pe pic.twitter.com/EGQcqrTcKx
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) March 10, 2023
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- The Earl and Countess of Wessex, with their daughter Lady Louise Windsor, during a television interview at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, Windsor, following the announcement on Friday April 9, of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh at the age of 99. Picture date: Sunday April 11, 2021. Prince Philip, was the longest-serving consort in British history.,Image: 604743240, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie Countess of Wessex at the Queen‚Äôs Green Canopy Garden, which highlights the importance of trees and woodlands to the environment during a visit to the Autumn RHS Chelsea Flower Show on September 20, 2021 in London, England. This year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show was delayed from its usual spring dates due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which also prompted its cancellation last year. Previously, only two World Wars had caused the event’s suspension.,Image: 633044422, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Chris Jackson / Avalon
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Sophie Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex at the Queen‚Äôs Green Canopy Garden, which highlights the importance of trees and woodlands to the environment during a visit to the Autumn RHS Chelsea Flower Show on September 20, 2021 in London, England. This year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show was delayed from its usual spring dates due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which also prompted its cancellation last year. Previously, only two World Wars had caused the event’s suspension.,Image: 633044501, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Chris Jackson / Avalon
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- HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, daughter Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, son James Mountbatten-Windsor, Viscount Severn, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex departs a Service of Thanksgiving for HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey, London, England, UK on Tuesday 29 March, 2022.,Image: 673801213, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Please credit photographer and agency when publishing as Justin Ng/UPPA/Avalon., Model Release: no, Credit line: Justin Ng / Avalon
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- Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Sophie Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, James Viscount Severn and Prince Edward attend the Easter Mattins Service, St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, UK – 17 Apr 2022,Image: 683741350, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: James Veysey/Shutterstock / Avalon
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- Prince Edward attends the Easter Mattins Service, St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, UK – 17 Apr 2022,Image: 683760756, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: James Veysey/Shutterstock / Avalon
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- Britain’s Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex attend the annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain November 12, 2022.,Image: 737052198, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: CHRIS RADBURN / Avalon
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- The Earl and Countess of Wessex attend the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.,Image: 741761897, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: David Parry / Avalon
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- Prince Edward and Sophie with family leaving Sandringham Church after Christmas Day service,Image: 746498374, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Malcolm Clarke / Avalon
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Royals Host State Banquet In Honor Of South African President State Visit To The UK
Featuring: Earl of Wessex and Countess of Wessex
Where: London, England, United Kingdom
When: 22 Nov 2022
Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com/Cover Images**North America Rights Only**
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Royals Host State Banquet In Honor Of South African President State Visit To The UK
Featuring: Countess of Wessex
Where: London, England, United Kingdom
When: 22 Nov 2022
Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com/Cover Images**North America Rights Only**
