Prince Edward becomes the new Duke of Edinburgh
The King has elevated Prince Edward, formerly The Earl of Wessex, to the Dukedom of Edinburgh
This has been a long time coming.BREAKING: The Earl and Countess of Wessex have been given the titles of The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh by The King. Today is Prince Edward’s 59th birthday.
— Cameron Walker (@CameronDLWalker) March 10, 2023
📸 PA pic.twitter.com/Z8s8wjGtk0
Apparently in the late 1990s when Prince Edward married Sophie, he opted for an Earldom rather than the higher and more traditional Dukedom and thus they became The Earl and Countess of Wessex. It was agreed by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh that upon Philip's death (and upon Prince Charles becoming King) the title would then be granted to Prince Edward which it now has.
They've made it lifetime only though, so their eldest son, Viscount James, will only inherit the Earldom of Wessex when his father dies. It's expected that the Edinburgh Dukedom will after Prince Edward's death be then granted to Prince Louis of Wales.
Well deserved anyway, I am a big fan of Edward and Sophie.
