Prince Edward Granted Duke of Edinburgh Title by King Charles on 59th Birthday

In a move that has surprised many, Prince Edward has been granted the prestigious title of Duke of Edinburgh by his brother, King Charles, on the occasion of his 59th birthday.

The honour, which was previously held by Edward's father, Prince Philip, has been given to the prince in recognition of his ceaseless work on behalf of the monarchy in recent years.

While it is customary for the Duke of Edinburgh's title to be passed down to the next in line, this tradition will not be followed in this case.

Instead, the title will only be held by Prince Edward for his lifetime and will then revert to the Crown.

His wife, Sophie, will become the Duchess of Edinburgh and their son, James, Viscount Severn, will take on Edward's previous title of Earl of Wessex.

This decision was made in light of Edward's position in the line of succession.

Currently standing at 13th, Buckingham Palace was concerned that passing on the Duke of Edinburgh title to an increasingly junior member of the family would undermine the prestige associated with the title.

However, it was ultimately decided that Prince Edward deserved the honour for his dedicated work with the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, which he has taken on much of since his father's retirement.

The Duke of Edinburgh scheme is a youth programme aimed at promoting personal development and community involvement among young people.

It was founded by Prince Philip in 1956 and has since become one of the most successful youth programmes in the world.

Prince Edward has been heavily involved with the scheme since its inception and has continued to promote its values in recent years.

After Prince Edward's eventual death, it is likely that the Duke of Edinburgh's title will be given to one of Prince William and Catherine's children, with Prince Louis being the most probable recipient.

This decision ensures that the most senior titles associated with the United Kingdom are passed down to the main branch of the family line.

In addition to the Duke of Edinburgh title, Prince Edward holds the Scottish title of Earl of Forfar and he will continue to use that alongside his new title.

When Edward eventually passes away, James will become the Earl of Wessex and Forfar and the non-hereditary title of Edinburgh will revert to the crown once more.

Prince Edward and Sophie will attend a reception in Edinburgh later today to mark the first year of the conflict in Ukraine.

The couple has expressed their pride in continuing Prince Philip's legacy of promoting opportunities for young people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential.

In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, it was said that “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.