Royal News

The Mail on Sunday reported that Charlotte, rather than Edward will likely receive a coveted title previously held by Prince Philip.

There have been some months of speculation as to why Prince Edward has not already been given the title of Duke of Edinburgh. It was generally assumed he would inherit the Dukedom, following his fathers death last year. Now it is being reported that in fact King Charles has held the title in order to bestow it on his granddaughter, Princess Charlotte.

When Princess Charlotte’s mother was expecting her first child, the rules of Royal primogeniture were changed to allow a girl born to the heir to the throne the same rights as a boy. (You may recall Queen Elizabeth was heir to the throne only because she had no male sibling.)

As of 2013 that rule was changed and meant that had Princess Catherine had a daughter instead of a son as her first child, that daughter would have held the position of heir to the throne regardless of how many brothers she might have later had.

The title Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are among of the most senior in the Royal Family. To honor the change in the rules, it appears King Charles wants his granddaughter to hold this position. Princess Charlotte is currently third in line for the throne behind her father, Prince William, and her older brother, Prince George. A source has said, “Discussions are under way, but the favored outcome for the King is that this title ought to go to Princess Charlotte. 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. Charlotte’s position is historically significant because she is the first female member of the Royal Family whose place in the line of succession will not be surpassed by her younger brother.”

It makes sense that this title being given to Charlotte would be how the King might chose to acknowledge this change in a centuries-old tradition. But at the same time his younger brother Edward and his wife Sophie are two of the hardest working Royals in the family and it was well known that Prince Philip wanted his youngest son and his wife to inherit the titles. Could it be that the British press, like their American cousins, are somehow mistaken in reporting this news and that it is really mere speculation because the press just likes to stir things up a bit? Perhaps they only want to create a little drama, something this family surely doesn’t need. Only time will tell and we shall see how this “Royal drama” plays out. Stay tuned.