Princess Charlotte May Be Receiving A Title Meant For Her Great-Uncle Edward
There could be big changes for Princess Charlotte of Wales and her future role in the royal family. But the exciting change for the seven-year-old princess could mean bad news for her great-uncle Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. According to Royal Central, it is a royal tradition that "male children of the sovereign receive a Dukedom on their wedding day." Prince Edward was not made duke because he was set to inherit his father's title as the Duke of Edinburgh once Prince Philip died. Edward and his wife Sophie were promised the Edinburgh titles on their wedding day in 1999. As Express reported, Buckingham Palace announced the gift when the pair married and said "Prince Edward should be given the Dukedom of Edinburgh in due course when the present title held now by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown."
Expecting to get the Edinburgh title, Edward took over some of his father's responsibilities when he retired in 2017. Town & Country noted that Edward was very involved with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which helps young people gain life and work skills. But after Prince Philip died in 2021, there were rumors that Edward might not inherit his father's title.
In July 2022, a source close to King Charles III explained that "Edinburgh won't go to them [the Wessexes] as far as the prince is concerned," per Tatler. But Edward's bad news could be good for Charlotte. The princess might be receiving a title she didn't expect from her grandfather, the king.
Princess Charlotte will likely be Duchess of Edinburgh
It appears Princess Charlotte of Wales will be the Duchess of Edinburgh. The Daily Mail reported that King Charles III had yet to pass the Duke of Edinburgh to his brother Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex because he was saving the title for his granddaughter Princess Charlotte. A royal insider told The Daily Mail, "Discussions are under way, but the favoured outcome for the King is that this title ought to go to Princess Charlotte." The royal source continued, "It would be a fitting way to remember the Queen — who, of course, had the title Duchess of Edinburgh — and a way for His Majesty to honour the line of succession."
But Edward has known the decision about the title was up to Charles. Edward told the BBC (via The Mirror) "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."
The decision by the king to hold the Edinburgh title makes sense as Charles is keen to "slim down the monarchy," and because Charlotte was reportedly Queen Elizabeth's favorite great-grandchild. According to Fabulous (via MyLondon), Ingrid Seward of Majesty magazine said, "Princess Charlotte — who is pony-mad — has always been a favorite. The Duchess of Cambridge revealed that when she was born, the Queen 'was really thrilled' she was a girl.'"
King Charles III blasted for not giving title to Edward
Princess Charlotte of Wales is likely happy to get a title from her grandfather, but she might be the only one. Many blasted King Charles III for giving Princess Charlotte the title of Duchess of Edinburgh instead of his brother Prince Edward. A poll showed an overwhelming majority thought that Edward should get the title. According to Express, 10,135 people voted in the outlet's poll, and a whopping 94% (9,496 people) were against the king's decision about the royal title. Yikes. Express readers seemed to believe the king should honor Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's wish that the Edinburgh dukedom goes to Edward.
One Express commenter wrote, "I believe that King Charles should follow what his father and Her Majesty the Queen wanted. Prince Edward and Sophie are hard-working members of the Royal Family." Another commenter against the king's decision wrote, "Most certainly! He [Edward] has stepped up to the mark and performed tasks for the Royal Family. It was always the understanding he would get the dukedom, and Charles is wrong not to follow through on that promise." The backlash continued on Twitter.
One unhappy royal watcher tweeted: "#King Charles is a royal a/hole not giving Prince Edward what the Queen & Prince Philip promised on his wedding day the title of DUKE OF EDINBURGH ... His whole family will hate him before Christmas." The king's decision about Edward's title doesn't seem good for Archie and Lilibet's royal titles.