Duke of Edinburgh: Big update on royal family titles as Prince Edward is crowned by King Charles III a new title is awarded

The King has passed his late father’s title, Duke of Edinburgh, to his brother Prince Edward, fulfilling the wishes of the late Queen and Philip.

Charles bestowed the title on the former Earl of Wessex on the occasion of Edward’s 59th birthday on Friday.

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Sophie, the former Countess of Wessex, is now the Duchess of Edinburgh and her 15-year-old son James, Viscount Severn, is the new Earl of Wessex.

The title of Lady Louise Windsor, the couple’s 19-year-old daughter, remains unchanged.

Some have criticized this as a step backwards, particularly as the monarchy seeks to modernize its image.

“I was really hoping to hear that the plans for the DofE title would go to Lady Louise (after Edward’s death) and make her a Duchess of Edinburgh in her own right,” one person commented online.

“Would you like to make an example and give the title to Louise?” said another commenter.

Other comments have pointed out that while the Crown Succession Act passed in 2013 means that Princess Charlotte will not be bypassed in the line of succession to her brother Prince Louis, this does not apply to Lady Louise as she was born before the Act became adopted.

Prince Edward’s new title comes after another title change this week, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex began officially using the titles Prince and Princess for their children Archie and Lilibet.

The new Duke and Duchess will be in Edinburgh – their first outing with their new titles in the city that inspired their name – later on Friday at a reception to mark the first year of the conflict in Ukraine.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “His Majesty the King was delighted to bestow the Duchy of Edinburgh on Prince Edward on the occasion of His Royal Highness’ 59th birthday today.

“The title will be held by HRH during his lifetime.

“The Duchy was last created for Prince Philip in 1947, following his marriage to Princess Elizabeth, who held the title of Duchess of Edinburgh before ascending the throne in 1952.

“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.”

The new count

However, the duchy – which was hereditary in the past – will not pass to the Edinburghs’ son James if Edward dies.

This paves the way for one of the Prince and Princess of Wales’ children to potentially hold the title in the future, with Prince Louis the most likely candidate.

James will become the Earl of Wessex and Forfar when the title of Duke of Edinburgh reverts to the crown, the palace said.

Edward will also remain Earl of Forfar for life, another of his titles, but he will use Duke of Edinburgh because it is the older Scottish title.

Philip had always wanted his youngest son Edward to inherit his title, but the decision ultimately rested with Charles as king.

When Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones married in 1999, they were given the titles Earl and Countess of Wessex.

But Buckingham Palace also announced that Edward would one day succeed his father as Duke of Edinburgh – but only after the deaths of Philip and the Queen.

In accordance with the Letters Patent issued when King George VI. Granted the title to Philip in 1947, Charles inherited the Duchy of Edinburgh when Philip died – but he did not use it.

After the Queen’s death six months ago, Charles ascended the throne and the title merged with the crown and could be bestowed on someone else

Philip’s desire to bestow the title on Edward was recognition of his son’s decades-long commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, the youth program that is one of Philip’s greatest legacies.

The late monarch bore the courtesy title of Duchess of Edinburgh upon her marriage, as did the Queen Consort when Charles inherited the title.

The changes were quickly updated on the royal family’s website on Friday morning, minutes after the official announcement.