Buckingham Palace has announced that Prince Edward has become the Duke of Edinburgh to mark the occasion of his 59th birthday.
The King conferred the title on his younger brother, as was the wish of his father, Prince Philip, who had previously held the title for 74 years.
The news means that Edward’s wife, Sophie, becomes Duchess of Edinburgh, with their 15-year-old son, James, taking up the title of Earl of Wessex.
Buckingham Palace announced the news in a statement on the morning of March 10.
In full, the statement reads: “His Majesty The King has been pleased to confer the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar, on the occasion of His Royal Highness’s 59th birthday. The title will be held by Prince Edward for His Royal Highness’s lifetime.
“The Dukedom was last created for Prince Philip in 1947, upon his marriage to Princess Elizabeth, who held the title of Duchess of Edinburgh before acceding to the throne in 1952.
“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.”
