In a notable act of familial continuity and royal tradition, King Charles III conferred the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon his younger brother, Prince Edward, in 2023. The elevation marked a significant moment, as the title – so closely associated with the late Prince Philip – found new life in the hands of the monarch’s loyal sibling. In turn, Edward’s wife, Sophie, assumed the title of Duchess of Edinburgh.
Their son, James, formerly Viscount Severn, accordingly became the Earl of Wessex at the age of 15. Yet, despite being heir to his father, James will not inherit the Dukedom. Under the King’s vision for a modern, streamlined monarchy, the Dukedom of Edinburgh is to become extinct upon the death of the current holder – a decision in keeping with His Majesty’s broader approach to reducing the number of working royals.
It is unlikely that the Earl of Wessex will ever be a working member of The Royal Family. Therefore, The King has perhaps deemed it inappropriate for such a prestigious dukedom to become detached from the immediate family in decades to come.
A similar fate awaits the Dukedom of Gloucester. Though Prince Richard, the present Duke, continues to fulfil his duties with quiet dedication, the title will pass eventually to his son, Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster, and subsequently to his grandson, Xan Windsor, Lord Culloden. Yet, these successors, while noble in lineage, will not occupy senior royal roles.
The same dynamic applies to the Dukedom of Kent. The current Duke’s heir, the Earl of St Andrews, and his grandson, Lord Downpatrick, remain in the line of succession. However, their position in the extended Royal Family signals that the title, though not endangered, will drift from the centre of royal life.
In this context, the decision not to allow the Dukedom of Edinburgh to pass to James, Earl of Wessex, becomes clearer. The King appears to have judged that such a distinguished title – steeped in royal legacy and national history – ought not to be held by individuals outside the working core of the Royal Family. This is a matter His Majesty will be keenly aware of, particularly given the gradual withdrawal of the Kent and Gloucester branches from public duties.
Within a generation, it is anticipated that neither the Kent nor Gloucester dukedoms will be held by senior royals. While their lines remain secure, their role within the institution is set to become increasingly ceremonial.
Such changes underscore a monarch intent on shaping a more focused and sustainable Royal Family for the future, mindful of both tradition and the evolving expectations of a modern constitutional monarchy.
