Prince Edward increases royal engagements amid royal family transitions, including his new role as Duke of Edinburgh and the reshuffling of other royal titles.
Prince Edward recently attended the commissioning survey of a new Naval ship in Scotland, where attendees noted his resemblance to his late father, Prince Philip. Prince Philip passed in 2021 and had a notable career in the Royal Navy. The event highlighted Prince Edward’s increasing royal engagements following King Charles’s cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
In another royal update, the Duke of Kent announced his retirement as Colonel of the Scots Guards after 50 years in the role. He will be succeeded by Prince Edward, marking a significant transition within the regiment that dates back to 1642. The Duke of Kent’s military career includes his role as a Field Marshal in the British Army, with his retirement to be commemorated at the Scots Guards Black Sunday events.
Additionally, there has been a reshuffling of titles within the royal family. Prince Edward, previously the Earl of Wessex, was granted the title of Duke of Edinburgh on his 59th birthday, a title previously held by his father. His wife, Sophie, became the Duchess of Edinburgh. Their son, James, was then made the Earl of Wessex. This change leaves the Duke of Edinburgh title as non-hereditary, stirring speculation about its future recipients.
Lastly, it was revealed that the titles Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, currently held by Prince William and his wife Kate, were initially offered to Prince Edward and Sophie. However, Prince Edward chose the title of Earl of Wessex inspired by the film “Shakespeare in Love,” thus paving the way for Prince William and Kate to receive the Cambridge titles upon their marriage in 2011.
