King Charles: Prince Edward's Duke of Edinburgh title 'technically' could have gone to Andrew

Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles has finally bestowed his brother, Prince Edward, the title of Duke of Edinburgh.

Prince Edward bestowed the Duke of Edinburgh title

It was a timely gift for Edward, who turns 59 today 10 March. Charles’ decision to give him the title grants the wishes of the late Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, who was the former Duke of Edinburgh.

A palace statement said:

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. The title will be held by Prince Edward for His Royal Highness’s lifetime.

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Prince Andrew could have gotten the title

According to The Telegraph, 'technically' the title should have passed to his older brother, Prince Andrew, upon their father’s death as the more senior brother in the Royal pecking order.

However, even if Prince Andrew hadn't been forced out of public life, it's no secret that he and King Charles allegedly do not see eye to eye. It's been said that Prince Andrew was the Queen’s favourite, while King Charles was neglected as a child.

Royal correspondent Richard Kay claimed in the documentary Paxman on the Queen's Children that Charles once said, 'the trouble with my brother Andrew is that he wants to be me'.

On Andrew's behalf, he reportedly 'lobbied hard' for the crown to skip his older brother completely and go straight to Prince William.

Read more ⋙ Prince Philip broke royal tradition when Prince Edward was born

Not an easy decision

Despite this, it seems the decision hasn’t been an easy one. In 2021, reports surfaced that the then-Prince Charles was not sold on the idea of fulfilling his father’s wishes by giving the title to Edward. A source was quoted in The Sunday Times saying:

The Prince is the Duke of Edinburgh as it stands, and it is up to him what happens to the title. It will not go to Edward.

Another source close to the Prince added:

Edinburgh won’t go to them [the Wessexes] as far as the Prince is concerned.

Even Edward told the BBC in a 2021 interview:

Of course, it will depend on whether or not the Prince of Wales, when he becomes king, whether he’ll do that, so we’ll wait and see. So yes, it will be quite a challenge taking that on.

Clarence House also did not deny that Charles was torn, with a spokesperson telling reporters:

No final decisions have been made.

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A win-win decision

With Andrew not an option, and Edward now 14th in line for the throne, it emerged in November 2022 that palace authorities were actually considering saving the title for Princess Charlotte 'to honour the line of succession'.

However, Charles’ decision to only give Edward the title for his lifetime can be seen as a win-win. He is granting his late father’s wishes, while simultaneously giving Prince William the option of bestowing the title on one of his own children in due course.

Sources used:

The Telegraph: 'Prince Edward may have the Duke of Edinburgh title – but getting it wasn’t easy'

Mirror: 'King Charles vs Prince Andrew: Jealousy, sabotage and 'row with Queen over Camilla''