King Charles grants Prince Edward Duke of Edinburgh title

Prince Edward has been named as the new Duke of Edinburgh, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The title, granted by King Charles III on the prince’s 59th birthday, will be held for his lifetime.

Prince Philip, who died in 2021, had formerly been Duke of Edinburgh – given the title on the morning of his wedding to Princess Elizabeth, who later became Queen Elizabeth II.

The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie, will be in Edinburgh later.

The couple are expected to attend an event in the Scottish capital on Friday marking the first year of the war in Ukraine.

Prince Edward becomes the Duke of Edinburgh almost two years after the death of his father, Philip, who held the title for more than 70 years.

It was understood that Philip had wanted Edward, his youngest son, to take on the title, but the decision was left in the hands of King Charles.

It means that Edward, 13th in line of succession to the throne, will attend the coronation in May as a duke, with a title that was synonymous with his late father.

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.

In his earlier career, Prince Edward had worked in theatre and television production, but had increasingly focused on public duties, including taking on a number of roles from Prince Philip as he grew older. (BBC)

Exit mobile version