Prince Charles will inherit his father Prince Philip’s title of Duke of Edinburgh, paving the way for the continuity of the British monarchy.
Prince Charles, heir to Great Britain’s throne, will inherit his father Prince Philip’s title of Duke of Edinburgh, the Royal Family has announced.
The announcement was made a few days after the burial of Prince Philip, who died April 9 at the age of 99.
The title had been first bestowed on Prince Philip on November 19, 1947, a day before his wedding to then Princess Elizabeth.
He was conferred the titles of Duke of Edinburgh, Baron Greenwich of Greenwich in the County of London, and Earl of Merioneth.
However, throughout his seven decades in public service to the crown, he was best known as the Duke of Edinburgh.
Although he was already a Greek and German prince, Philip became a Prince of the United Kingdom by Letters Patent of his wife, Queen Elizabeth, on February 22, 1957.
“A declaration of the same date communicated Her Majesty’s will and pleasure that her husband be known as His Royal Highness The Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh,” the declaration for that day read.
When George VI gave Prince Philip the title back in 1947, he wrote that Prince Charles would be the next Duke of Edinburgh should he pass away.
Once Prince Charles becomes King, however, the titles will merge with the crown.
In hopes of keeping the title of the Duke of Edinburgh alive, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles agreed that upon the monarch's death and Prince Charles’ ascension to the throne, her youngest son Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, would become the Duke of Edinburgh.
The agreement was made during Prince Edward’s 1999 wedding, and Prince Edward been preparing himself for the title ever since.
He currently leads the Duke of Edinburgh award that used to be spearheaded by his father.
The award was created by the late Prince Philip to encourage physical education in the youth. (MO)
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