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Who will inherit Duke of Edinburgh title?

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News Desk

Updated on April 15, 2021

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Prince Philip died at the age of 99, as announced by the royal family. His loved ones, as well as numerous patronages and titles, like Duke of Edinburgh, are left behind by the husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Many people are curious who will inherit the Duke of Edinburgh title since Prince Philip’s death was announced last week.

According to expert Andrew Morton, Prince Philip will not be the last member of the British royal family to bear the title of Duke of Edinburgh after his passing.

Following a death, it is common for titles to be passed on to another family member. When the Queen dies and Prince Charles takes the throne, his title of “Prince of Wales” will be handed on to Prince William, who is now the Duke of Cambridge.

According to the Evening Standard, Prince Charles has inherited the title of Duke of Edinburgh. According to the publication, senior courtiers will affirm this after Prince Philip’s funeral on Saturday, April 17th.

“Prince Charles went along to see Prince Philip in [the] hospital in February … and I think that was quite a historic meeting where effectively [Philip] passed on the family baton to Prince Charles,” Morton, 68, informs Us Weekly while reviewing his new book, Elizabeth & Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters. “And so he is now head of the family and he’s actually taken the Duke of Edinburgh’s title.”

Even after inheriting his late father’s title, Charles, 72, remains Prince of Wales. According to Morton, the “symbolic” handing down of the duke title to the future king would introduce “a new energy into the family.”

Why is Charles now Duke of Edinburgh?

In 1947, the Queen’s father, King George VI, bestowed the title of Duke of Edinburgh on Prince Philip.

When Philip married Princess Elizabeth, later the Queen, he was granted the title.

The title was to be passed to Philip’s firstborn son after his passing, according to the provisions of the agreement.

As a consequence of Prince Philip’s passing, Prince Charles is the current Duke of Edinburgh.

On the day Philip died, Charles inherited the Duke of Edinburgh title, as well as his father’s other hereditary titles.

How about Prince Edward?

Although his other siblings have more senior royal titles – Prince Charles is the Prince of Wales, Princess Anne is the Princess Royal, and Prince Andrew is the Duke of York – Prince Edward is only an Earl.

Prince Charles will hold the title of Duke of Edinburgh until he succeeds Queen Elizabeth and becomes King.

When Charles succeeds to the throne, the title will be transferred to Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, the Queen, and Prince Philip’s youngest son, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.

According to Metro, the Queen has the authority to reallocate the title within the male bloodline as she sees appropriate, and this has been the plan since 1999. The decision makes sense since Edward is already in control of the Duke of Edinburgh award.

Prince Edward married Sophie, Countess of Wessex, in 1999, and the royal family declared that whilst the pair would be granted Earl and Countess titles on their wedding day, Prince Edward would eventually become the Duke of Edinburgh.

The following is an excerpt from a BBC news story from the day of Edward and Sophie’s wedding: “It has also been agreed that Edward will also become Duke of Edinburgh after the death of his mother, the Queen, and his father, Prince Philip, who currently holds the dukedom. It is believed to be in recognition of his work with the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.”