Prince Edward and his wife Sophie were known to have a close relationship with the late Queen before her passing at 96 in 2022.
The couple first met at a charity event at the Queen's Tennis Club in London, announcing their engagement six years later on January 6, 1999. Before their nuptials, it was announced that they would be known as The Earl and Countess of Wessex.
This announcement surprised many, as it was expected that the Queen's youngest son would receive a traditional Dukedom like his elder brothers. However, when King Charles ascended the throne after the death of his mother, the longest reigning monarch, he granted his brother Edward their late father Prince Philip's title: the Duke of Edinburgh.
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The Earl and Countess of Wessex then became known as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. But why did Prince Edward hold the title of Earl for so long while his brothers and nephews were all Dukes?
In fact, Prince Edward was due to be given a Dukedom and was the first in his position to become an Earl since the Tudor era. The unusual title wasn't a slight from the Queen, but rather Prince Edward's request to be known as the Earl of Wessex. His choice was unexpected but aligned with his love for theatre and arts.
It was later revealed that the Queen had offered Edward the Dukedom of Cambridge - a title eventually bestowed upon Prince William and Kate when they wed in 2011 - but he declined it for a surprising reason. The Earldom of Wessex hadn't been used since the 11th century, yet Edward reportedly asked the Queen to name him after Lord Wessex, a character in his favorite film, Shakespeare in Love.
A Royal insider explained to the Telegraph in 2010 why Edward chose that name: "He liked the sound of it and asked the Queen if he could have that instead." When the news broke about the surprising title, it was disclosed that the Royal Family planned for Edward to become the Duke of Edinburgh following both his father's death and his elder brother's ascension, which eventually happened.
The Duchess of Edinburgh was last held as a courtesy title by the late Queen from her wedding to Philip in 1947 until she became queen in 1952. The Countess once shared the moment she and Prince Edward were told Prince Philip wanted them to take on the title in an interview with the Telegraph.
She said: "We sat there slightly stunned. He literally came straight in and said, 'Right. I'd like it very much if you would consider that'." King Charles inherited the title of Duke of Edinburgh after Prince Philip's death, as his eldest son. With King Charles ascending to the throne, the Dukedom of Edinburgh returned to the Crown and is now available to be reissued.
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Although the Queen and Prince Philip are said to have desired that Edward and Sophie receive the Dukedom, it ultimately fell to King Charles to make that decision. Before the decision was confirmed, Edward expressed in a BBC interview: "It was fine in theory, ages ago when it was sort of a pipe dream of my father's .... and 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."
True to speculation, Charles bestowed the titles upon Edward and Sophie. However, reports suggest that their son James will not inherit the Dukedom and will instead remain Earl of Wessex.
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