Prince Edward Just Got a Fancy New Title
Updated: Mar. 13, 2023
And the new title may sound very familiar.
Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie aren’t the only royal family members with new royal titles. The latest honor goes to King Charles III‘s younger brother, Prince Edward.
In fact, the royal title happens to be somewhat of a birthday gift for the youngest child of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The title was bestowed to the prince on March 10, 2023, which also happened to be his 59th birthday. Don’t worry if you can’t remember the former Earl of Wessex off the top of your head. We happen to have this nifty royal family tree to help provide a refresh.
What is Prince Edward’s new title?
Buckingham Palace has officially announced that Prince Edward’s new title is the Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Edward and his wife Sophie have held the titles of the Earl and Countess of Wessex since their marriage in 1999.
If that name sounds familiar, it may be because the title also belonged to the late Prince Philip. Husband and consort of Queen Elizabeth II, Philip held the title of Duke of Edinburgh from 1947 until his passing in 2021. After his death, the title reverted back to the Crown.
Along with Prince Edward, his wife Sophie will also receive a new title: the Duchess of Edinburgh. The title happens to be one that the late Queen held until she became monarch in 1952. Both Prince Edward and Sophie visited Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, following the announcement.
While King Charles had the final say in who would receive the title of Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip reportedly intended for it to be given to his son, Edward, after his passing.
What is the history of the royal title?
Other Dukes of Edinburgh include:
- Prince Frederick, grandson of George I, in 1726
- Prince William (the brother of King George III, not the Prince William of today) in 1764
- Prince Alfred, Queen Victoria’s second son, in 1866
- Prince Philip, husband and consort to Queen Elizabeth II, in 1947
What does Edward’s new title mean?
Some predict that Edward and his wife Sophie may take on a more elevated role within the monarchy. The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh had already taken on some of Prince Philip’s roles in the later years of his life, such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Do Prince Edward and Sophie’s children have new titles?
Although Edward is now the Duke of Edinburgh, neither of his children will receive the title when he passes. However, Edward and Sophie’s teenage son—whose previous title was Viscount Severn—will now be granted the use of his father’s secondary title, the Earl of Wessex. As for their daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, her title will remain the same.
In regards to the new Duke and Duchess titles, Buckingham Palace said this in their official announcement: “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.”
