As 2022 comes to an end, Royal Central takes a look back at our ten most popular posts of the year. Our ninth most read article was a feature by Lydia Starbuck on the Dukedom of Edinburgh. Originally published on 19th November 2022, the full post can be read below.
It’s one of the most famous titles in recent royal history but its creation, seventy five years ago today, came as little surprise to many. For as one newspaper put it, the decision to create the Dukedom of Edinburgh for the bridegroom of the heir to the throne had been an open secret for months.
King George VI made his soon to be son in law, Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh in Letters Patent issued on November 20th 1947. Just hours later, the new duke married George’s elder daughter, Elizabeth, at Westminster Abbey. However, many had already been certain that the bridegroom would walk into his wedding as Duke of Edinburgh.
The Western Mail reported that ”The King’s choice of the Dukedom of Edinburgh causes no surprise. It had been freely guessed that this would be the title ever since the Princess Elizabeth’s speech at Edinburgh when she received the freedom of the city last July.”
The title had last been used by the second son of Queen Victoria, Prince Alfred, whose only son had predeceased him.
The Aberdeen Press and Journal wrote ”the choice of Edinburgh for the chief title….will give special pleasure to Scotland.”
King George VI also gave his son in law the titles of Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich. The latter greatly excited the Western Mail which wrote ”it is…a graceful tribute to Lieutenant Mountbatten’s naval service for Greenwich has been called ”the cradle of the British Navy”.
The Shields Gazette said the bridegroom ”has become known to millions as His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh” – King George VI had also made his soon to be son in law an HRH as Philip had given up his own title of Prince of Greece and Denmark before his engagement to Princess Elizabeth was announced.
He was created a Prince by Queen Elizabeth II after her accession. Prince Philip would go on to hold the Dukedom of Edinburgh for almost 74 years, until his death in April 2021.
