Prince Edward and Duchess of Edinburgh ‘always assumed’ new title would be passed down to son James

Prince Edward and the Duchess of Edinburgh ‘always assumed’ his new title would be passed down to their son James, the Mail on Sunday’s Kate Mansey has told PALACE CONFIDENTIAL. 

Earlier this month, King Charles announced that he has conferred the title of the Duke of Edinburgh on his younger brother Prince Edward to mark his 59th birthday.

As such, Prince Edward’s son James is now known as Earl of Wessex – his father’s previous title. 

But in an unusual move, the monarch confirmed that the Dukedom – which was held by Prince Philip for 69 years – will only remain with Prince Edward for his lifetime.

Upon his brother’s passing, the title will return to the Crown – which will allow the monarch to then decide the future recipient. 

Discussing the move on the latest episode of the Palace Confidential series, the Mail on Sunday’s Assistant Editor Kate Mansey said the newly-appointed Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were surprised to learn that James would not inherit his father’s new title.

She explained: ‘My sources say that they had assumed that they would get the Duke and Duchess title and it would go to James. Because why would you get a Dukedom and it not pass to your son?’

However, Kate said this is an example of King Charles ‘looking ahead’ to the future of his ‘slimmed down’ monarchy.

She continued: ‘As James gets older has his children, they have children, you’re [left with] a Duke of Edinburgh title that is so far removed from the Crown.

‘And it’s a really important title. You can’t have a situation where the Duke of Edinburgh is in several generations’ time so far removed so as not to be considered royal.’

However, Kate then went on to point out how James has been given the title of the Earl of Wessex as a type of ‘compensation’ from his uncle King Charles.

Under the ancient rules of primogeniture, none of the changes have affected the couple’s student daughter Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor.

The ancient and prestigious title of Duke of Edinburgh was given to Prince Philip by Queen Elizabeth when they married in 1947. 

The newly-appointed Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh pictured with their children Lady Louise and the Earl of Wessex James in April 2022

The expert said King Charles (pictured last week) is ‘looking ahead’ to the future by not making the Dukedom hereditary 

The ancient and prestigious title of Duke of Edinburgh was given to Prince Philip by Queen Elizabeth when they married in 1947. 

Edward was exceptionally close to his father and his later years took on much of his work with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme. 

When he and Sophie married in 1999 it was announced that the dukedom would pass to Edward after Philip’s death. 

The issue for Buckingham Palace was that Edward is now 13th in line to the throne and will only slide further down the order of succession over the years when the Prince and Princess of Wales’ children grow up and go on to have families of their own.

There was concern that the most senior titles associated with a nation of the United Kingdom would be passed on to an ever more junior branch of the family line.

When Philip died in April 2021, Buckingham Palace announced that the title had reverted to the monarch – and that continued to be the case when Queen Elizabeth died last September.

At one point courtiers discussed the King keeping the title permanently but many felt that it would be wrong not to honour Prince Philip’s wishes and thank Edward for the ceaseless work he has done on behalf of the monarchy in recent years. 

Like other members of the Royal Family, Edward had a number of titles conferred on him when he married. His other Scottish title is the Earl of Forfar.

He will remain Earl of Forfar, although will use his more senior title of Edinburgh.

His son James will become The Earl of Wessex and Forfar when Edward dies and the now non hereditary title of Edinburgh reverts to the Crown again.