King Charles Names Prince Edward the Duke of Edinburgh — What It Means
King Charles III announced that Prince Edward’s title will change to the Duke of Edinburgh. The title was previously held by the late Prince Philip.
March 13 2023, Published 4:06 p.m. ET
Britain’s Prince Edward is following in his father’s footsteps with his new title as Duke of Edinburgh. King Charles III announced his younger brother’s title change on Prince Edward’s 59th birthday on March 10, 2023.
Keep reading for all the details on Prince Edward's previous title and what the new title change entail. Prince Edward's wife will also have a new title.
What does the Duke of Edinburgh do?
The title of Duke of Edinburgh is named after the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, and King Charles also fills the role of King of Scots. As Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward doesn’t receive any territorial land or revenue.
What was Prince Edward’s previous title?
Prince Edward’s previous title was the Earl of Wessex, and his wife Sophie was known as the Countess of Wessex. With the title change, Edward and Sophie are now the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
According to a statement released by Buckingham Palace, the Duke of Edinburgh title was created for Prince Philip, father of Prince Edward and King Charles, in 1947 when he married then-Princess Elizabeth. When Elizabeth took the throne as Queen in 1952, Philip continued to hold the dukedom title until his death in April 2021.
After Prince Philip’s death, then-Prince Charles inherited the Duke of Edinburgh title. However, the queen and Prince Philip had always planned for Prince Edward to eventually inherit the title. The royal couple presented a written pledge of their plan to Edward and Sophie when they married in 1999.
But when Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022, King Charles considered changing those plans in an effort to “slim down” the monarchy, The Daily Mail reports. The Duke of Edinburgh title would instead eventually go to Edward’s son, James.
King Charles obviously changed his mind when it was announced on March 10 that the king was “pleased to confer the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar.” Edward will keep the title throughout his lifetime.
“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,” reads the statement from Buckingham Palace.
What is Prince Edward’s net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Prince Edward has a net worth of about $10 million. He is 12th in line to succeed the throne. Edward served briefly in the Royal Marines and worked in theater and television production before taking on the full-time duties of a royal family member in 2002.
Prince Edward
Duke of Edinburgh
Net worth: $10 Million
Britain's King Charles III bestowed the title Duke of Edinburgh on his youngest brother, Prince Edward, on March 10, 2023. It was Edward's 59th birthday. It was the wish of the late Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, for Edward to have the title that his father held until he died in 2021.
Who is the Duke of Edinburgh’s wife?
Edward first met his wife, Sophie, in 1987 when he was dating one of her friends. The two didn’t start dating each other until 1993, and they married in 1999. Sophie was considered a close confidant to Queen Elizabeth, and many say the monarch treated her like a ‘second daughter.”
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have two children, Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn. Edward's son James will now be the Earl of Wessex. When Edward dies, the Duke of Edinburgh title won’t go to his son. The title will most likely go to Prince William’s youngest son, Louis. Prince William’s eldest son, Prince George, is second in line for the Crown.