After the death of Queen Elizabeth II last week, many things have changed in a short space of time for the Royal Family.
From the accession of King Charles III to the throne to the organisation of his mother’s funeral, things have moved at a lightning pace for both the Royals and the public.
One thing that has had to be considered is the redistribution of Royal titles. Prince William is expected to become the Prince of Wales, with Kate Middleton potentially becoming the first Princess of Wales since the death of Diana.
According to the Scottish Daily Express, He is also expected to take several Scottish titles, including Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.
The title of Duke of Edinburgh was held by Prince Phillip until his death in April of last year, when it moved to his eldest son, Charles.
Now Charles is King, the title has merged with the Crown, and it could be possible for others to receive it.
It has been widely reported that King Charles’ younger brother Prince Edward, could be in line to receive the title of Duke of Edinburgh.
Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones married in 1999 and received the Earl and Countess of Wessex titles.
However, according to The Independent, the Palace said at the time: ‘The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince of Wales have also agreed that the Prince Edward should be given the dukedom of Edinburgh in due course when the present title now held by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown.’
For this to happen, the king would need to write ‘letters patent’ – an order from the monarch granting a title to create a new dukedom of Edinburgh.
If this was to happen, Prince Edward and Sophie Countess of Wessex would also become the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Ultimately, it is the decision of King Charles III as to who receives the title or whether it remains in abeyance.
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The Dukedom of Edinburgh title (named after the Scottish capital) is a historic and senior title in the Royal Family. The title has gone extinct twice since its creation, making the latest incarnation of the title it’s third.
The Dukedom of Edinburgh was first created by King George I in 1726, who bestowed it upon his grandson, Prince Frederick. Unfortunately, Prince Frederick predeceased his father in 1751 and so his titles passed to his eldest son, who would later become King George III and it would merge with the crown.
The king’s younger brother, Prince William Henry would then receive the titles of the Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, as well as Earl of Connaught, before it passed to his eldest son, Prince William Frederick, on his death in 1805. However, the title would go extinct upon his death in 1834.
The second creation of the title happened during the reign of Queen Victoria, when Prince Alfred was given the title in 1866. Sadly, Alfred’s only son predeceased him, and the title went extinct once more.
The third use of the title was under King George VI, in 1947, who gave the title to Philip Mountbatten (as well as the HRH title). The Duke of Edinburgh married then-Princess Elizabeth, who would become Queen Elizabeth II.
Upon Prince Phillip’s death last year, the title passed to then-Prince Charles. Now Charles is King, the title has merged with the Crown.
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