Buckingham Palace has announced that Prince Edward has been named as the new Duke of Edinburgh on his 59th birthday. The King has given the title to his youngest brother, which was a title strongly associated with their father, Prince Philip, who was Duke of Edinburgh for over 70 years until his death in 2021.
The new Duke, who is 13th in line of succession to the throne, and his wife Sophie, who becomes Duchess of Edinburgh, visited Edinburgh on Friday. They attended a reception that recognized the efforts of volunteers who have been supporting Ukrainian refugees for the past year.
It was understood that Prince Philip had wanted Edward, his youngest son, to take on the title, but the decision was left in the hands of King Charles. Although it is a prestigious title, it does not come with any land or income.
When Prince Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999, Buckingham Palace had announced that “in due course” it was expected by the Queen and Prince Philip that Edward would eventually become Duke of Edinburgh.
The first Duke of Edinburgh was created in 1726, when the Hanoverian monarch George I gave the title to his grandson, Prince Frederick. Queen Victoria recreated the title in 1866 for her second son, Prince Alfred, and it was created again in 1947 for Prince Philip.
With Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, no longer a “working royal,” there could be a more high-profile role for Edward, the King’s youngest brother.
At the end of last year, Parliament fast-tracked a change in law to add Prince Edward and his sister Princess Anne to the “counsellors of state” who can act on behalf of the King. This means that Edward will attend the coronation in May as a duke, with a title that was synonymous with his late father.
Although the announcement of the new Duke of Edinburgh was met with celebration by some, the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic criticized the award of the title to Prince Edward, saying the “views of the people of Edinburgh” should have been considered before the title was given as a “birthday present.”
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “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.”
Prince Edward’s former title of Earl of Wessex will now go to his son, the 15-year-old Viscount Severn. But there will be no change in title for Edward’s daughter, Lady Louise Windsor.
0
0
Average Rating