PRINCE Charles is refusing to grant his younger brother Edward the title of Duke of Edinburgh after their dad Philip’s death, it is claimed.
The Earl of Wessex has waited over twenty years to inherit his late father’s title – but Charles is reportedly less keen on the idea.
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In keeping with royal tradition, the title of the Duke of Edinburgh was immediately been passed to Philip’s eldest son Prince Charles following his death in April.
But the title has long been expected to be passed to Edward. In 1999, Buckingham Palace announced that Edward would succeed his father in the dukedom “in due course” with the blessing of the Queen and Prince Philip.
After his marriage to Sophie Rhys-Jones that year, the Queen granted him the title of the earldom of Wessex, a title he chose.
But Charles is said to be mulling whether to break with the pledge as he reassesses his own future, according to the Sunday Times.
A source close to Charles told the newspaper: “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 said: “Edinburgh won’t go to them (the Wessexes) as far as the prince is concerned.”
On Charles’ eventual accession to the throne, the title of the Duke of Edinburgh will merge with the crown – meaning the new King will be able to grant Edward the title of Duke of Edinburgh.
It leaves Charles with the decision of whether to grant the title to Edward, another member of his family, or leave it in abeyance.
David White, who advises the royal family on heraldry, told the Sunday Times that there was no urgent need for Charles to grant Edward the title after his accession to the throne.
He noted: “George VI was the Duke of York and when he became king, the dukedom merged with the Crown. It wasn’t granted again until Prince Andrew became Duke of York.”
The Queen granted Andrew the dukedom when he married Sarah Ferguson in 1986.
Edward is said to be aware that it is not certain that he will be granted the title.
In an interview with the BBC last month, he was asked: “You will be the next Duke of Edinburgh, when the Prince of Wales becomes king, that is quite something to take on?”
Edward replied: “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. So yes, it will be quite a challenge taking that on.”
The Earl of Wessex also noted in the past how the granting of the title was “bittersweet” as it could only come to him “after both my parents have actually passed away”.
Prince Edward has already taken a number of his father’s patronages.
He is a trustee of the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme and a patron of the Edinburgh International Festival.
The title has been created three times for members of the Royal Family since 1726. It was first given to Prince Frederick by his grandfather King George I.
Over a century later, Queen Victoria created the title in 1866 for her second son Prince Alfred.
It is a substantive title – meaning it is acquired either by inheritance or individual grant.
Prince Philip was granted the title of Duke of Edinburgh on the day of his wedding to Queen Elizabeth on November 20 1947.
The Duke of Edinburgh was president, patron or member of over 780 organisations.
A Clarence House spokesman told the Sunday Times: “We do not comment on matters related to the accession.”
Buckingham Palace declined to comment to the newspaper.
