King Charles ‘saves title Duchess of Edinburgh for Princess Charlotte’
The King plans to make Princess Charlotte Duchess of Edinburgh instead of giving the title to the Earl of Wessex, according to reports.
While Edward was expected to inherit the dukedom following his father’s death last year, the king is said to have withheld the title for his granddaughter.
Insiders say giving Charlotte the lead royal role will be a tribute to her late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who also had the title.
Sources told the Mail on Sunday: “Discussions are ongoing but the King’s preferred outcome is that this title should 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 Her Majesty to honor the line of succession.”
Charlotte is third in line to the throne, after her father, the Prince of Wales; and his older brother, Prince George.
The old rule of royal primogeniture, which gave men priority over women in the line of succession, was removed under the Succession to the Crown Act in 2013.
This meant that Charlotte’s position was not affected when her younger brother Prince Louis was born in 2018. In contrast, while Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, was the second child of Prince Philip and the Queen Elizabeth II, her younger brothers, Princes Andrew and Edward, were above her in the line of succession.
Charlotte’s position will only change if Prince George has children.
If granted the title, Charlotte will be the fourth member of the royal family to hold the position since its creation in 1726.
An insider said: “Charlotte’s position is historically significant as she is the first female royal whose place in the line of succession will not be surpassed by her younger brother.
“It is therefore constitutionally significant that Charlotte should receive such a corresponding title, because it is not impossible that she will accede to the throne if, for example, Prince George does not have children.”
It was widely speculated that Edward, the third son of the late Queen and Prince Philip, would become the Duke of Edinburgh.
He was made Earl of Wessex upon his marriage, while his brothers received dukedoms.
In what was seen as a sign he was preparing for the degree, he took over as trustee chair of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards in 2015, the program his father founded in 1956.
But Charles III has planned a lean monarchy, which sources say involves “promoting those directly aligned to the throne rather than those on the edges”.
A source close to Edward said it “didn’t go unnoticed” that he didn’t get the title.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said no decision had been made.
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