Prince Edward of the British Royal Family has recently been bestowed with the prestigious title of Duke of Edinburgh by his brother, King Charles III, on the occasion of his birthday.
This title was previously held by Edward’s late father, Prince Philip, who honorably served as the Duke of Edinburgh for nearly six decades until his passing in April 2021.
Despite the significance of Edward, aged 59, acquiring his own dukedom, there is speculation brewing about the potential successor to this esteemed title, and it may not be the individual one would expect.
Edward shares two children, James (now styled as Earl of Wessex) and Lady Louise Windsor, with his wife Sophie.
The bestowal of Edward’s new title resulted in Sophie relinquishing her former title of Countess of Wessex in favor of being recognized as the Duchess of Edinburgh.
While many may assume that Edward would pass on the title of Duke of Edinburgh to his son James, recent reports suggest otherwise.
Upon Edward receiving his title, it was explicitly stated that the title would be held exclusively by Prince Edward for the duration of his royal tenure.
Subsequently, when the title reverts to the crown, it is unlikely to be inherited by Edward’s son James, according to sources.
This development raises the possibility that Prince William, currently known as the Prince of Wales following the demise of Queen Elizabeth II in September last year, could potentially see his children – Prince George, Prince Louis, or Princess Charlotte – inherit the title upon his ascension to the throne as the King of England.
However, the Royal Family has refrained from providing any official commentary on the matter of future titles at this juncture.
Although James, aged 15, was recently granted the title of Earl of Wessex, he and his 19-year-old sister have opted not to use the titles of Prince and Princess, a deliberate choice made by their parents.
They have been encouraged to adopt a more grounded approach to life, with Edward and Sophie emphasizing the importance of preparing their children for future responsibilities and independence.
In a candid statement, Sophie expressed their rationale behind this decision, stating, “We try to educate them on the basis that they are likely to have to work for a living.
Hence, we have made the decision not to use the titles of His Royal Highness.”
Related Stories
