The Scottish titles of the Royal Family

While many of the Windsors are known by English titles, several have Scottish honours to their name as well. Here, Royal Central looks at the Scottish titles held by some of its most high profile members.

Prince William’s many Scottish titles

The Prince of Wales has a bumper crop of Scottish titles to his name. The one most associated with William is Duke of Rothesay as he has often underlined that this is how he is known when he is in Scotland. It is one of a number of titles that were always held by the heir to the throne of Scotland and which now belong to the first in line to the British throne. The others are Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.

William took on those titles when he became heir but he has another Scottish title. When he married, in 2011, he was given the title of Earl of Strathearn by his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and he still holds that title today.

The title of Duke of Edinburgh is perhaps the most famous with Scottish links. It is now held by Prince Edward who became Duke of Edinburgh on his 59th birthday in 2023. This fulfilled a promise made by Queen Elizabeth II in 1999 when Edward married. He was made Earl of Wessex on his wedding day but it was announced that he would, eventually, be the Duke of Edinburgh.

This couldn’t happen until the title had returned to the Crown which didn’t happen until 2022.

How the most famous Scottish title of all was revived

Prince Philip was, of course, Duke of Edinburgh for over 70 years. The title was bestowed on him by King George VI when Philip married the then Princess Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey on November 20 1947. Throughout her long reign, Queen Elizabeth II was also, technically, Duchess of Edinburgh.

When Prince Philp died, on April 9 2021, the title of Duke of Edinburgh was automatically inherited by his eldest son, Charles, although he never used it publicly. On the death of Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8 2022, Charles became King and all his other titles were returned to the Crown. He recreated the Dukedom of Edinburgh to give to his youngest brother. However, under that creation, it cannot be inherited and will go back to the Crown when Prince Edward dies.

Queen Elizabeth II also bestowed several Scottish titles on the occasion of royal weddings. As well as making Prince William Earl of Strathearn on his marriage to Catherine Middleton in April 2011, Elizabeth II created Prince Harry Earl of Dumbarton just ahead of his wedding with Meghan Markle in May 2018. Prince Andrew was made Earl of Inverness at the time of his marriage to Sarah Ferguson in 1986.

Other Scottish titles

Prince Edward didn’t receive a Scottish title when he married Sophie Rhys-Jones in June 1999 but twenty years later, his mother changed all that. In March 2019, to mark his 55th birthday, the Queen created her youngest son Earl of Forfar with Edward and Sophie visiting the area soon afterwards. They are now Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Earl and Countess of Forfar. Their son, James, uses his father’s other title and is known as Earl of Wessex.

Two other high profile royals hold Scottish titles as well but, as is usual, they are actually used as courtesy titles by their heirs. Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin, Edward, Duke of Kent is also Earl of St. Andrews but his eldest son, George, is now known by that title. Another cousin, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, counts Baron Culloden among his titles. However, it is now used as a courtesy title by the only son of his eldest son who is known as Xan, Lord Culloden.