There is a brand new Duke of Edinburgh. King Charles III has created the Dukedom again for his younger brother, Prince Edward, fulfilling the wish of the most famous holder of the title, their father, Prince Philip. It’s another chapter in the long and varied history of this royal dukedom.
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. King Charles recreated the title for his youngest 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.
Now there is a new Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Edward was given the title on March 10th 2023, his 59th birthday.
