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The History of the Dukedom of Edinburgh

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

It’s seventy five years exactly since the Dukedom of Edinburgh was given to a young bride groom about to embark on a marriage that would change the House of Windsor forever. Thanks to Prince Philip, the title became one of the best known in the world but it has a long and varied history all of its own.

Most recently, it was bestowed upon Prince Philip just ahead of his marriage to the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947. Although it takes its name from the capital of Scotland, the dukedom is created in the peerage of Great Britain rather than the Peerage of Scotland.

The Dukedom of Edinburgh given to Prince Philip was its third creation. In the run up to his marriage, Philip had renounced the title of Prince of Greece that he had held since birth. His creation as a duke was overseen by his father in law, King George VI.

It was governed by the same rules as all dukedoms and so would always be inherited by his eldest son. However, in 1999, when his youngest son married, Prince Philip let it be known that he hoped, in time, that it was his last child, Prince Edward, who would one day carry his title. For that to happen, however, it had to return to the Crown. When Prince Philip died, in 2021, it was Prince Charles who became Duke of Edinburgh. On the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the dukedom returned to the Crown. It is now up to King Charles to bestow the title on his younger brother.

Before Philip, there were two other Dukes of Edinburgh and both have held important roles within the Royal Family. In 1726, King George I made his grandson, Frederick, the Duke of Edinburgh. Frederick was second in line to the throne and, the following year, became Prince of Wales when George I died. On Frederick’s death, in 1751, it passed to his eldest son who became George III in 1760. The title returned to the Crown.

It was recreated in 1866 by Queen Victoria for her second son. Prince Alfred was, at the time, fourth in line to the throne. On his death, in 1900, the title once more returned to the Crown as his son had predeceased him and there was no male heir to inherit.

Whether a fourth creation will see Prince Edward, youngest son of the last Duke of Edinburgh, reinvent it for the 21st century remains to be seen.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.