Prince Charles probably won’t allow Edward to become the Duke of Edinburgh

The Royal Family Attend The Festival Of Remembrance

The Earl and Countess of Wessex – aka Edward and Sophie – have clearly been on a publicity tour following Prince Philip’s passing. They’ve been courting attention like C-listers and giving out-of-nowhere interviews to anyone. In their recent Telegraph interview, the big headline was “Oprah who?” and Sophie claiming that British people would only know Oprah from “chat shows.” But the other point of the interview was that Edward and Sophie wanted people to know that Prince Philip had asked Edward to take the Duke of Edinburgh title when Charles becomes king. Edward even reiterated that in his recent CNN interview – both Sophie and Edward have been acting like the DoE title going to Edward is fait accompli because, much like their famewhoring, “it’s what Philip would have wanted.” Now we know why the Wessexes have been acting like such desperados though – turns out, it won’t be up to them, and Charles isn’t into it.

For more than 20 years, the Earl of Wessex has been expecting to inherit his father’s title and become the Duke of Edinburgh one day. But his eldest brother is not so set on the idea, it has emerged. The Prince of Wales, who holds his late father’s title, is understood to be reluctant to hand it over to Prince Edward, 57, the only of the Queen’s three sons not to hold a dukedom.

In 1999, when Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones, the Queen gave him the earldom of Wessex, a title he chose. On their wedding day, Buckingham Palace announced in a statement: “The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales have also agreed that the Prince Edward should be given the Dukedom of Edinburgh in due course, when the present title held now by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown.”

But those close to Prince Charles, 72, say his thinking has since shifted, and he is reassessing his plans for the future. A source who knows Charles, said: “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 source close to the prince, said: “Edinburgh won’t go to them [the Wessexes] as far as the prince is concerned.”

Philip’s title passed to his eldest son upon his death in April, and will remain with Charles until his accession, when it will merge with the Crown. It will then be Charles’s decision whether to bestow it on Edward, another member of his family, or to leave it in abeyance.

David White, garter king of arms, who advises the royal family on heraldry, said there would be no immediate requirement for Charles to grant the Edinburgh title anew when he becomes sovereign. White said: “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 conferred the dukedom on Andrew when he married Sarah Ferguson in 1986.

After his father’s death, Charles, who is known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, sought advice on whether to start using the Edinburgh title. It is understood he was advised to continue using the Rothesay title, which is senior to the Edinburgh dukedom.

[From The Times of London]

None of this is important, of course, but it definitely explains the Wessexes’ behavior in recent months and I’ll admit to finding the “abeyance” issue of particular interest. It’s very possible – nay, probable – that when Charles becomes king, he will simply allow the Duke of Edinburgh title to revert back to the Crown and not give it to Edward or anyone else. Just out of spite! LOL. The Times makes it clear that while the Wessexes insist that Philip genuinely wanted Edward to have the DoE title, it’s not up to them and it’s not even up to the Queen. The DoE title reverted to Charles as the eldest when Philip passed and it’s up to Charles to decide what’s next. Clarence House even commented to the Times: “We do not comment on matters related to the accession. No final decisions have been made.” LOL. Basically, big changes are coming when Chuck becomes king and all you bitches are on notice.

The Funeral Of Prince Philip, Duke Of Edinburgh Is Held In Windsor

Day Three of The Royal Windsor Horse Show

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, WENN.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

229 Responses to “Prince Charles probably won’t allow Edward to become the Duke of Edinburgh”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. Eurydice says:

    That first photo – all those loooong noses.

  2. VS says:

    A system where a brother decides on the destiny of another one…..all the best really!!! how this is allowed is mindblowing to me!
    Anyway, back to Orange Man and his deranged appearance on Fox News

    • Eurydice says:

      It looks like Harry escaped that system.

    • NCDancer says:

      Hereditary monarchies really are a form of child abuse. No wonder the Windsors are a dysfunctional mess.

      • BrainFog says:

        Best comment I have read about this entire situation so far.

      • Jess says:

        Great observation, NCDancer. That really does explain the awfulness of this entire situation the best.

      • Nyro says:

        I wish I could find it but about a year ago, someone made a really good thread about this very point. It really is child abuse.

      • NCDancer says:

        Imagine living your entire life knowing that your only role is to be a helpmate to a sibling who just happened to be born first and not being able to do more with your life because you are royal and it’s not becoming. Now to be clear, I don’t think any of these jokers were aspiring to much of impact in their lives, and they will all be fine because mom and dad will leave them money (don’t get me started on how crazy it is that a monarch who doesn’t have a job beside being monarch has personal wealth). But, man, is it all ick!

    • BayTampaBay says:

      I think this story s made up and cannot believe my eyes it came from The Times of London. If QEII wants Edward to be a “Duke” she can make him the Duke of Glasgow, Dover, Buckingham, Connaught or London tomorrow and future Chucky III know this.

      The British media is just running out of ideas to fabricate stories about.

      • Justme says:

        I doubt she’d use Connaught – as that is located in the Republic of Ireland (Eire). That dukedom will never be used again! 🙂

      • CourtneyB says:

        I think it’s crazy too and had to double check it wasn’t the Daily Fail. I doubt Charles is going to eff over his brother. The only one, besides Anne, that actually works and has been mostly scandal free. Certainly the last couple decades. And to go against Philip and the queen’s wishes. And Philip did want that or they wouldn’t have announced it years ago, had him take over the DOE trust etc. Charles is going to need good pr especially if he goes and names Camilla queen rather than not like they said. This, combined with the fact the death of EII will bring a wave of nostalgia and you really don’t want to look like you’re spiting her.
        Just one thing though—he couldn’t pick Connaught because it’s an Irish peerage.

      • BayTampaBay says:

        @Justme & @CourtneyB – I was just throwing out names to make my point. I was not considering any political implications. Let Edward be the Duke of Belfast. LOL! LOL!

        Seems to me Chucky III is loudly and publically disrespecting his mother AND father by not following through with their wishes which were made clear at the time of Edward’s marriage.

        I am sure the Daily Fail will find some way to blame the consideration of Edward not getting a dukedom or Meghan & Harry.

        @CourtneyB – “And Philip did want that or they wouldn’t have announced it years ago, had him take over the DOE trust etc.” IMAO, since William wants absolutely no part of the Prince’s Trust, he really should NOT be made Prince of Wales. LOL! LOL!

      • Rapunzel says:

        Baytampabay- DoE awards/trust is separate from the Prince’s trust, no? I never heard a thing about Willyboy being involved with the DoE awards/trust.

      • BayTampaBay says:

        @Rapunzel – The DoE awards scheme and trust is completely separate from the Prince’s trust,

        When Charles becomes Chucky III, the plan is for David Armstrong-Jones Linley, The Earl of Snowdon to take over as the “President” of The Prince’s Trust as William has stated that he is NOT interested at all.

      • Becks1 says:

        @Rapunzel -they’re not connected. Bay is only connecting them by using Edward’s work with and support of the DoE Awards as a sign that he should be DoE (or that he thought he would be DoE) and contrasting that with William’s complete lack of interest in the Prince’s Trust as a sign that he should not be Prince of Wales. I think.

      • BayTampaBay says:

        Becks1 – Exactly! I was also trying to make the point the the trust were not to close or “wind down” once the original founder’s, Charles (Prince’s Trust) and Philip (DoE Trust and Award scheme). were no longer heading the organizations.

        Edward Wessex has “stood in” for Philip in all aspects of the The DoE Awards Scheme and Trust since the Duke went into full retirement at Wood Farm.

        Charles not wanting to comply with his parent’s whishes and William not wanting to carry on his father’s work is nothing put a slap in the face to the BRF and the global public in general IMHO.

      • anotherlily says:

        She can’t make him Duke of Edinburgh. Charles currently holds that title.

    • (TheOG) Jan90067 says:

      What I don’t get is that if the title reverts to the Crown, LIZ *IS* THE *CURRENT* “CROWN”. Wouldn’t SHE have hold over the title to give it to whomever she chooses??

      • Becks1 says:

        No, Charles inherited it as the oldest son of the duke of edinburgh. In that regards, it was just like any other title, same way James will inherit the Earl of Wessex, Archie will inherit Duke of Sussex, etc. It will revert to the crown when Charles becomes king because at that point he “loses” all his other titles because he is “the Crown” and that will absorb all his other titles bc it is the highest title. I’m not sure if i”m using the correct terminology lol but that’s the gist of it.

      • Feeshalori says:

        Technically, the queen is the dowager duchess of Edinburgh and the eldest son inherits the title upon the death of her husband. As would follow in any usual inheritance of a title. She has widow status and cannot override Charles’ right to give it to Edward. It’s just that Charles has to do the right thing according to his parents’ agreement to give the title to Edward once he becomes king.

  3. Cj says:

    Smart money say he thinks he should absorb it back to keep his elder son from launching a similar publicity campaign of how it should go to him as the FFK “everyone” wants to be king now anyway, and duelling publicity campaigns reveal everyone’s skeletons.

    Although I hope he doesn’t say he plans to absorb it anytime soon so the duelling publicity campaigns DO happen because I think reporters are bored and would lap that ish up to entertain us plebeian masses.

    • Mika says:

      This is honestly kind of fucked. Duke of Ed is one of the positions that actually has a job attached to it (promoting and awarding awards to students across the Commonwealth) and as far as I know, Edward has been doing that for years. When I got my Duke of Ed award in Toronto 15 years ago, I got it from Prince Edward. Is Charles going to take on handshaking with high school student around the world at age 70?

      • goofpuff says:

        Charles is going to keep it as a leash on Edward and Sophie to do his bidding for as long as he can get away with it. If he can get them to keep doing the DofE job without the title, he’ll absolutely do that.

      • Songs (Or it didnt happen) says:

        @Goofpoof, so, basically, Charles is going to see how long he can get away with making Edward do all the work of the DOE without actually giving him the title?

        I didn’t know Charles had taken American business management courses, but, there you have it. Give those employees all the responsibility of a manager without the accompanying pay raise.

      • notasugarhere says:

        It doesn’t have an actual job associated with it. Philip started the DoE Awards, it isn’t something that has a centuries old history. Anyone can run them; it doesn’t have to be a Duke of Edinburgh. Charles could move the DoE Awards under his new umbrella charity, the one his cousin David is running.

  4. Becks1 says:

    Oh I didn’t realize it was announced at the time of their wedding that Edward would become DoE. I knew it was always discussed and considered a possibility, but I didn’t realize BP had gone that far to include it in their statement at the time of their wedding.

    The fact that Charles was considering using the Duke of Edinburgh title in Scotland tells me that he is definitely not going to give it to Edward. Huh. Very interesting.

    • Sunday says:

      Same as the statement that Camilla would never be Queen Consort (or something to that effect).

    • Lauren says:

      I remember reading it was surprising that instead of a royal dukedom, Ed was made earl of Wessex and that instead he and Sophie were to be made duke and and duchess of Edinburgh when the title reverted to the crown. They never really explained why (even though the Cambridge and Sussex dukedoms were available back then) and gave some half-assed explanation that Ed liked the Earldom of Wessex after watching Shakespeare in love. Could have been Chuck pushing in the background for all we know.

    • Sofia says:

      Yeah why does Charles want to use the Edinburgh title in Scotland? He has his own dukedom there (Duke of Rothesay). And even when he’s King, that title supersedes all so there would be no point in using it.

      • popsicle_vp says:

        I think Charles is worried about the UK losing Scotland (for good reason) and doesn’t think that DofEd is too big of a title to go Edward. Interestingly,on Edward archived bio from the royal website stated the intention to make him DofEd. That portion has been removed and is not on his current bio.

    • Jeremy says:

      He can’t give it to Edward until he’s king anyway so it wouldn’t really matter if he uses it for now

    • Humbugged says:

      Charles already has 5 Scottish titles .

      • Becks1 says:

        Exactly, that’s why it’s interesting to me that he was considering using a new one.

    • Feeshalori says:

      I think the reason the Queen gave Edward the earldom was because eventually he would inherit the DOE title. I seem to remember that coming up at the time of the wedding. And Edward came up with the Wessex name because of Shakespeare in Love as Lauren stated. If this is true, petty Charles seems to want to refuse granting number of titles both with Edward and with Harry’s children. Edward did a lot of work with the DOE foundation. This is not how you gain allies.

      • Becks1 says:

        Yes, that’s what it says in the post – that it was included in the statement from BP about naming Edward Earl of Wessex. That was the part that surprised me – that it was actually included in the statement. I just thought it was one of those things that was assumed and speculated but not confirmed.

      • Lemons says:

        I truly believe Charles doesn’t want DoE to go to Edward out of pettiness. He wants to inherit his mother’s AND his father’s legacy. He doesn’t want to share. He’ll say it’s because he wants to streamline the monarchy, but it doesn’t make much sense considering how little things would change if Edward were given this title.

        I really would hate to grow up in a family with these types of machinations constantly going on in the background.

    • Mrs.Krabapple says:

      This was part of the official announcement that said Edward would be an Earl, and his kids will have courtesy titles as children of an Earl, but the kids would NOT be given HRH titles. The consolation prize was supposed to be the Duke of Edinburgh title, “in due course”:

      “The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and The Prince of Wales have also agreed that The Prince Edward should be given the Dukedom of Edinburgh in due course, when the present title now held by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown. ”

      So if Charles wants to go back on that agreement to give the Dukedom to Edward, he would need a *very* good reason. Otherwise, it makes either him or Queen Elizabeth look like a liar. But, MAYBE that is what he plans? It would explain Sophie’s sudden desperation to prove her family is valuable to the monarchy — possibly, she may want the Queen to bestow another title on Edward, and/or the HRH titles on her children, before Elizabeth dies because she knows Charles won’t do it? She can’t give the Duke of Edinburgh title, but she can give Edward other titles that are not currently in use.

  5. TeamMeg says:

    Petty runs in the family.

    • BabsORIG says:

      IKR? Charles is a really very petty man, geesh🙄🙄🙄
      But OTOH, don’t you just love when Ed and Sophie true colors show? This is why they’re publicly licking the Cambridge arses. They know Charles will renege on that promise and their only chance is William bestowing the Edinburgh dukedom to them, LOL.😁😆

  6. OSTONE says:

    The royal family are a bunch of pathetic, back-stabbing, jealous people. Charles specially. One thing that stands out though.. other than Camilla, Charles seems to have no allies? I get it that he will be the monarch but he won’t be as beloved as Elizabeth.. I feel like he has burned so many bridges among his kin that whenever he needs something, people will leave him hanging dry?

    Am I reading too much into this?

    • Mac says:

      Can’t see him relying on his kin much anyway. Andrew is unmentionable, Edward and Sophie are desperate social climbers, Anne has zero f*cks to give, and Harry and Meghan quit that mess. That pretty much leaves William and Kate.

      • CourtneyB says:

        Andrew’s title will revert to the crown when he dies and they can get to polishing it up. The previous two DOY (George V and VI) were widely respected and Andrew has put a plague on it like earlier holders.

      • Anastasia says:

        Anne has always been my favorite, she works hard and does whatever the fuck she wants, and it seems like it’s always been this way. I don’t know if it is because or sexism, or because after she was, what 10, she knew she wasn’t the spare, she decided to do what she wanted. I almost wonder if that’s one of the reasons Anne and Charles have a decent relationship, because she works, but also doesn’t give a fuck and gives as good as she gets, whereas the rest of them are all entitled twats.

      • BayTampaBay says:

        @Mac – I do not see the Wessexes as “social climbers’. I see Edward and Sophie fighting for their financial survival. Unlike the Yorks (Andrew, Sarah and Beatrice), I view the Wessexes as being very happy to live as rich non-working royal country gentry if they had the money to do as such.

      • BothSidesNow says:

        @ Anastasia, I though, isn’t that why she is so wonderful!! She doesn’t care what is going on within the family, the bickering, backstabbing and egos run amok, here she is doing her own thing without a care in the world! She should have been queen, given her stiff and substantial backbone with no fucks to give! Isn’t she the one who told Charles to get over himself when he was complaining about his upbringing? Anne is a rock star in my book!

      • BayTampaBay says:

        Anne was also the one who told Charles that the Parker-Bowels marriage was not the unhappy entanglement he perceived it to be.

      • notasugarhere says:

        BayTampaBay, they are desperate to keep Sovereign Grant funding. They know they cannot afford the upkeep and staff at Bagshot if they aren’t working royals. Charles fired Lord Geidt, QEII’s previous private secretary, when he publicly championed keeping Edward and Sophie on the books during Charles’s reign.

        The slimdown monarchy was always meant to be six people. Charles, Camilla, William, William’s spouse, Harry, Harry’s spouse.

    • Amy Bee says:

      William is his ally right now. For how long I’m not sure. Things will probably change when the Queen dies.

    • Kviby says:

      What’s up with him and Anne? They seemed to get along ok from what I saw on “The Crown.”

      • Murphy says:

        I’m sure they get along fine b/c she doesn’t have any claims to anything and isn’t trying to get any claims to anything. Accordingly she is rarely mentioned in this context.

      • Becks1 says:

        He and Anne are also more contemporaries than Andrew or Edward. Charles is almost 12 years older than andrew (he was born in feb 60, Charles november 48) and Edward was born in 64 – Charles was almost 16. So just as a matter of ages he’s going to have more in common with Anne than Edward or Andrew. Also, Anne just puts her head down and goes to work. She’s not fighting with Charles in the press about titles or her children or anything.

      • Nivz says:

        Sorry, but Anne can F herself too. Sure, she works hard (given “royal work” is an oxymoron.) But what makes any of you imagine she has more compassion or character than any other royal? Same upbringing. Same cesspool. If anyone can provide examples of her being really different (primarily wrt Harry and Meghan) I will happily eat my words.

        To me, Anne seems like another Margaret. Not in the debauchery, but in the false impression that she is somehow interesting, when it seems to me, she is just mean.

    • Alexandria says:

      Anne…she works hard but just another senior royal who said nothing and did nothing that we know of for Harry and Meghan.

    • Mrs.Krabapple says:

      I get the feeling none of those family members “love” each other anyway. How can you have a normal relationship with your siblings when every birth can push someone down the order of precedence, and affect what they are entitled to in the future? And having to bow and scrape to a family member because of birth order, or arbitrary titles bestowed at the monarch’s whim?

      I do agree with Charles (despite how nasty I think he is personally) that the only person who matters is the actual monarch, as the head of state. The future monarch matters a little bit because they will *probably* be the next head of state, but even if something were to happen to that person there are others who can take their place. The impressive-sounding titles and “charity work” that all other family members have, are just a smoke screen and excuse to keep the grifters suckling at the public teat.

      • Thirtynine says:

        I don’t think even the second in line is important. There is the heir apparent, who should be presumably be getting some understanding of what’s involved, but everyone else should have a job, and pay for themselves. They aren’t going to run out of heirs- there are plenty. It doesn’t HAVE to be William.(of course now it does, but if all the Cambridges disappeared, there’d be Sussexes, and Yorks, and so o n.) There is no reason William and George need to sit around for 50 years on the public purse on the likelihood they might be king one day. The crown has hopped and jumped around over the centuries- it certainly hasn’t always gone to the first in line. If you can’t get rid of the monarchy altogether, then the monarch and direct heir are all it should be. IMO.

  7. HeatherC says:

    If the Wessexes really wanted to flex and show how great they’d be at it, then they should be in Scotland, preferably Edinburgh, to show how much of an ‘asset’ they really are, esp with rumblings of Scottish independence and how badly the Cambridges fumbled the ball.

    Or at least performatively flex.

    How are they so so bad at even the easy things?

    • Dee says:

      Titles based on heredity and birth order, but not merit. All the ignorance and arrogance gets passed down to the next generation.

    • Mac says:

      Sophie and Edward were in Scotland at the same time as HM and William. No one cared.

    • Amy Bee says:

      They were in Edinburgh doing their own engagement at the same time the Queen visited Scotland two weeks ago.

    • TabithaD says:

      I seem to recall there was a story floated a few months ago about Edward and Sophie possibly being sent to live in Scotland for a bit to boost support for the union. It was roundly laughed at and we heard nothing further, but now I wonder if that was the start of their new PR campaign?

  8. Snuffles says:

    They’re going to destroy each other as soon as the Queen dies.

    I know many think it is admirable and grand that the Queen has reigned for almost 70 years. But I think decades of people waiting for their turn or their crack at the fortune has resulted in festering resentment that is going to explode like a volcano once she’s gone.

    I can totally see Charles yanking the rug out from under most of that family and they will all pop off in revenge.

    • Seraphina says:

      @Snuffles, I agree with you on the destroying comment. I have seen families destroy one another when the parents all pass away for lesser than a kingdom and all its riches.

    • Demi says:

      Exactly they will be all fighting for the last piece of the cake..

    • Beach Dreams says:

      Absolutely. He’s been circulating the “slimmed monarchy” narrative for ages and he gradually shut out his younger son when he decided to marry and have children with a biracial woman. What makes the likes of Edward, Sophie, etc. think that he won’t do the exact same to them when Elizabeth passes? I don’t think Charles has genuine love for anyone besides Camilla.

      • Tessa says:

        I’m not so sure about Camilla. I think had Charles been given the same choice as Edward VIII, marrying the mistress or the throne. Charles would have chosen the throne. He did a lot of research before he married Camilla so he would not lose his place in line of succession. Charles looks out for himself first IMO and always has. If he had any consideration or love for Camilla he would not have married anyone else nor had many other lady friends, some like Dale Tryon, he was very serious about.

  9. Sunday says:

    Every time they mention the “accession,” my brain hears “ascension” which I automatically relate to the episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in which the mayor sheds his human identity and “ascends” into a giant demon snake. Seems fitting, honestly.

  10. OriginalLala says:

    here’s an idea – get rid of all these stupid titles! a good monarchy is no monarchy.

  11. Woke says:

    All this pettiness Charles is showing with his siblings/family under the guise of downsizing the monarchy without actually reducing the cost, it pains me that the press will help him achieving it. The Brits better wake up.

    • Concern Fae says:

      That’s the issue isn’t it. Charles is demanding downsizing for everyone else, embiggening for himself.

    • Beach Dreams says:

      I’m so curious as to how the issue of money will be handled, because somehow costs went UP after the departure of two senior royals and a year of lockdown and limited operations. A “slimmed down monarchy” should have its financial “needs” reduced accordingly.

      • Jais says:

        Yahoo news actually had an article this weekend discussing if the cambridges got more money for themselves now that the sussexes left, which I thought was interesting that a news outlet even covered this.

      • BothSidesNow says:

        @ Jais, of course they are! Look, TOB has to bribeA Keen Guevara just to do a simple bit of work, which we see each time she comes out. A new set of clothes, botox, hair extensions, and whatnot! They are raking in the bucks without lifting a finger. I think Charles is bidding his time with TOB knowing he can’t trust him as far as he can throw him.
        If Charles thinks that TOB and his lazy wife are going to step up to the plate and work, he is more foolish than I thought.

    • AnneSurely says:

      Honestly, most of the time I think he is a tremendous bitch. In this area, though, I completely understand it. He’s going to be king for as long as he’s alive once the queen dies bc the royalists are staunch and the opposition is apathetic. This way he gets to cut out scheming relatives and look good doing it.

      • Jais says:

        But has Edward ever backstabbed Charles? I really have no idea and does the title of duke of Edinburgh come with any money? Seems like the wessexes need money more than titles. But if has dad legit wanted him to have and his brother takes away, who is the backstabber? Not a huge fan of the wessexes but this just seems cold.

      • BayTampaBay says:

        @AnneSurely – I do not view the Wessexes as “scheming relatives”. The Yorks, yes, but not the The Wessexes.

        @Jais – The title, Duke of “Edinburgh” comes with no land. no urban estate and no moneys. It is just a title.

      • Jais says:

        I’m not sure why there is this fight over just a title. Obv it’s a royal thing so something I would never get. I just don’t understand Charles’ reasoning for not giving Edward this title. It’s not money and his parents wanted him to have it, so what’s the problem?

      • equality says:

        Sophie supposedly made remarks about Charles during her undercover reporter scandal. Maybe he holds a grudge for a long time.

      • MissySnow says:

        Charles wants a slimmed down monarchy when he becomes King, so why would he give Edward DoE title when the one he has will eventually end up belonging to his son and on down the line? It makes perfect sense to me and the fact that Charles is probably not going to make Archie and Lilli HRH’s when he becomes King is another reason that Edward should not end up with DoE title.

      • Feeshalori says:

        Archie and Lili will automatically become HRH prince/ss when Charles comes to the throne per current letters patent as grandchildren of the monarch unless the queen issues a new one denying the titles. So far she hasn’t. Charles will have to remove those titles with his own letters patent once he’s king, that’s different than refusing to confer the DOE title on his brother. It remains to be seen if he will act on removing those titles from Harry’s children once the time comes.

  12. MaryContrary says:

    He’s probably holding it back so that William can give it to Louis in due time.

    • Shadeau says:

      Louis might get Duke of York when Andrew pops his clogs. That’s traditionally held for the second son of the monarch, and as it stands now Bea and Euge can’t inherit the title. If there was any justice in the world it would go to Charlotte as the second child but I don’t hold out a lot of hope that this particular flavor of discrimination against women will end any time soon.

      • Sofia says:

        He might not. Andrew is in his early 60s and Louis is 3. If Louis gets married in 25-30 years, Andrew will be 86-91 but considering how long his grandmother and father lived and how old his mother is, he might still be around.

      • Feeshalori says:

        Once Anne is no longer around, Charlotte will most likely inherit the Princess Royal title if William ever gets to the throne. But that’s a long way away.

  13. Amy Bee says:

    I saw royalists pouring scorn and doubt on this article. But Charles doesn’t want to give his own grandchildren titles so why would he want to give the DoE title to Edward? Charles sabotaged Edward’s showbiz career and I wouldn’t be surprised if he sanctioned the sting operation on Sophie. I really thought that the Wessexes were just using Philip’s death to bolster their public image but this article has made me realise that they were really campaigning for DoE title.

    • Seaflower says:

      Not sure if Charles sabotaged Ed’s show bus career or if Ed was just really bad at it. Of course it could have been both.

      • CourtneyB says:

        Probably both. But Charles was smart enough to avoid the Royal Knockout debacle (which I totally watched in the day! Lol) that Edward put on. He even roped Anne in somehow.

    • Seaflower says:

      @CourtneyB I watched it too. I remember Fergie gallivanting around. It was cringe-worthy.

    • notasugarhere says:

      I don’t think Charles sabotaged anything. He would have wanted Edward and Sophie to be successful outside of the family, because he never wanted them as working royals. They weren’t supposed to be working royals, but they messed up so badly they were put on the payroll. Sophie’s business was 1.2 million in the hole, a debt she never paid.

      • Tessa says:

        Yes, and those who criticize Harry and Meghan never bring up Sophie’s business failure. I can only imagine the vitriol directed at Harry and Meghan if that had happened to them.

  14. Chaine says:

    Does this dukedom include anything other than the name? I mean unless it comes with a palace in Edinburgh and taxpaid help to run it, they’re nothing but pathetic senior citizens bickering over their play titles as if being a Duke of anything meant any more than getting some extra ribbons and trinkets to wear to events full of other Royal family members similarly bedecked.

    • Sunday says:

      I think that’s it; if Edward is made Duke of Edinburgh then it’ll be a lot harder to cut them off completely (or at least the Wessexes seem to think so). Their public campaign was intended to encourage an upswell of support for them (both in public and inside the palace) so that Charles would think twice of streamlining them right out of the working royals and off his balance sheets.

    • Chicago says:

      I was wondering the same – what’s the big deal unless there’s additional money involved. I know the royals love their titles and it is important in their play pretend world, but ultimately if there’s no material benefit, why get so upset?

    • sassafras says:

      This is what I want to know. I thought that Charles had made his personal fortune from the Duchy of Cornwall … somehow (American here, don’t want to assume he’s making money off the peasant farmers in their … crofts or something). And IF Charles did make money off Cornwall (somehow), then can all of these titles be profitable? Is it just the nature of Cornwall? Can York and Cambridge and Sussex and Edinburg make money too? Do English people even talk about money in all this? Or is it just the crass Americans figuring out that one can cash in on titles ?

      • Sofia says:

        The duchy of Cornwall alongside the duchy of Lancaster are the only Dukedoms with lands and assets attached where the holder can make a profit and keep. All the other dukedoms have no such thing. Heck “Wessex” hasn’t been a place for nearly a 1000 years and “Sussex” isn’t it’s own place anymore – it’s two different places called East and West Sussex

      • BayTampaBay says:

        The duchy of Cornwall alongside the duchy of Lancaster are the only ROYAL Dukedoms with lands and assets attached where the holder can make a profit and keep it.

        Some of the larger NON-ROYAL Dukedoms and NON-ROYAL Earldoms have very large estates entailed to the holder of the title such as Devonshire, Buccleuch, Norfolk, Bedford, Jersey, Cadogan and Derby

    • BayTampaBay says:

      I have no problem with Sophie Wessex and she, like Princess Anne, is willing to dance & sing for her supper by performing generic bread-and-butter engagements which are more important than most people want to admit.

      • notasugarhere says:

        I see them as desperate to stay on the Sovereign Grant funding, which is why Sophie has been sucking up to W&K for years now.

  15. Lauren says:

    I read that it is possible that Bully asked that the title be kept for Louis, for when he gets married as the traditional second male born title, dukedom of York, stinks to the heavens right now. It could be so for all we know. Charlotte will become Princess Royal when Anne passes so there’s that, so she won’t need the title, Louis either gets York, Edinburgh or something else, but there aren’t many royal dukedoms.

    • Becks1 says:

      I doubt Louis will get York because I don’t think Andrew will be dead by then. He’s only 61. If Louis gets married in 25 years, that puts Andrew at 86, which is young for the Windsors, lol. Charlotte may get Princess Royal but that is not guaranteed ( Anne was not named PR until 1987, well after her marriage, even though her aunt passed away in the 60s). PR also is granted by the sovereign to the oldest daughter – i.e. Charles cannot give it to Charlotte, only William can and only when he is king AND only when Anne has passed (so again, could be another 30 years).

      All that to say that I do think there is something to the theory that William wants the DoE title for one of his sons – maybe not Louis though, maybe George. Going by Windsor longevity, George may have 50 or 60 years to go before he’s king, and William may think that he “needs” a “good” title during that time.

      • Harper says:

        The fact that this story came from The Times makes me think that it is from Will, keeping The Times in the loop in exchange for not revealing that he and Kate are living completely separate lives. The Times got the Meghan is a bully scoop right before Oprah, and that came from KP. I think Will does not want the Duke of Edinburgh title wasted on Edward’s line. He or Kate or Ma Middleton, with their love of QE2 cosplay, want the Duke title to go to a Cambridge heir. I think they want it for George when he marries. Of course, the Times story blames Charles, so you know it was from Will.

      • Becks1 says:

        @Harper I think that’s probably what’s going on. William wants George to be the next DoE and he’s pushing hard for that behind the scenes (for Charles to hold onto the title after the Queen passes and then give it to George.)

      • notasugarhere says:

        Anne was named Princess Royal because she b*tched to QEII about how much attention Diana and Sarah were getting.

    • sassafras says:

      York has been tainted somewhat by the current holder but it’s one of the oldest and highest. I can’t see it being put to bed indefinitely, not when there are three wee princes in line…

      • Lauren says:

        Betty’s grandfather and her own father were the second in line holding the dukedom of York before being unexpectedly crowned (George V’s brother who was the heir died of influenza, so George took up the throne, and his dead brother’s fiancee), it’s a pity that the history of the title has been so marred by a pedophile. Still, even if they decided to retire the York title for a while they could revive at least 4 royal dukedoms that have gone extinct in the last 140 years.

    • Tessa says:

      Charlotte may have a wait to get the Princess Royal title. After Princess Royal Mary passed on , anne had to wait some decades to get the title

  16. Rapunzel says:

    Wow… taking back your dad’s wedding present to your little bro, and announcing plans for that in advance, mere months after dad died? Charles is stone cold.

    This is totally petty and cruel. I’m sure that Edward would have been given a different dukedom when he got married, but he probably sentimentally wanted the DoE, and agreed to forego any other dukedom so he could have thar title. So not only is Charles denying the DoE title, he’s preventing Edward from ever being a Duke. That’s really unfair. I kinda feel for Edward, and I think it’s clear why he and Sophie have been desperately clawing for clout since Philip died.

    Like Snuffles said, these fools are gonna eat each other alive once Betty goes.

    • Lucy says:

      I thought that was pretty crappy too. His main wedding present was a promise of a title and you’re going to yank it after they’ve waited 20+ years for it?
      I hope this is just baseless speculation, but The Times of London isn’t the daily fail. (I am unaware of British paper trustworthiness rankings).
      Maybe the Queen will hand them another one, I assume Edward would bring it up with her if this is an actual thing.
      I don’t inquire why I’m surprised that someone who’d cut off his son and new family when they’re in danger would do this, but I still am.

    • BayTampaBay says:

      It was my understanding that Philip WANTED VERY MUCH for Edward to have his Dukedom of Edinburgh.

  17. Lizzie Bathory says:

    So the Wessexes floated the idea in the press that they’d be sent to live in Scotland, right? And I wonder if Charles countered with the narrative that William (with or without Kate) would be sent to Scotland at least part time to shore up the union (lol). William is an earl in Scotland, not a duke. I could see Charles dangling the Duke of Edinburgh title in front of William to get whatever Charles might want (concession to Camilla being Queen Consort, perhaps).

    • sassafras says:

      Now I really want to see Edward and William competing for “most Scottish royal.” “Oh? Ye drank Irn Bru and went to St. Andrews? I’m tossing a caber and raising a wee coo.”

      • BothSidesNow says:

        🤣🤣. That’s fabulous sassafras!!! I really needed that laugh today!! It played in my head with a British accent, though not as posh as Keens though!!

  18. SH says:

    I’m interested in what came first? For the last year or two suddenly Sophie started positioning her family with the Cambridges. So did Sophie find out what Charles is planning and decided to buddy up desperately to the next future king? Or is this a rebuke from Charles for Sophie’s PR games? Charles and his team are used to seeing William as the threat and are stuck in the mindset so much they screwed up the Harry and Meghan situation so much because they were still treating William as the biggest threat to Charles being king. So they would not look fondly at Sophie choosing to suck up to William, rather than Charles.

  19. Rapunzel says:

    I wonder if Charles changing Phil’s plans has to do with the DoE awards? Like, Charles doesn’t want Edward stepping into that and all the good press around it

    • Becks1 says:

      I think Edward is already pretty involved in those though. Sophie cycled through Scotland and England as part of those awards(I think) a few years ago and I think Edward has handed them out for the past few years. But that always made sense to me since Edward was going to be DoE. So this is very interesting and sounds like things are going to get messy.

      • Rapunzel says:

        Becks- good point.

        But tinfoil tiara theory: Wills wants the DoE title so he can have the ready made easy work. We know the Doolittles love to take credit for other people’s work.

        Earthshot didn’t go anywhere, did it? DoE awards would be a good replacement.

      • Becks1 says:

        Apparently the earthshot awards are going to be in october. William keeps making announcements about it on IG And I just dont think there is a lot of interest.

        I do think its possible that William wants the DoE title for one of his sons though.

      • Elvie says:

        Yeah – so I work with the DoE Foundation and Prince Edward has been the Chairman of the Board for ~ 15 years. Charles had the Princes Trust and was the Queen’s heir so the idea for the last 20 years has been positioning PE as Philip’s heir, taking over his projects, which he has done. This is so petty of Charles.

      • Feeshalori says:

        The Wessexes probably saw the writing on the wall once Philip died and the title came to Charles.

    • Well Wisher says:

      Since Prince Philip retired, Edward would fly to Canada to give out the awards. It was pretty much expected that he would have that title.
      It’s a pity the Queen cannot live forever.

      • Saucy&Sassy says:

        Well Wisher, I think the Queen can fix this rather easily. I think all she needs to do is put something out on social medial on the 1 year anniversary of PP’s death to include some statement to the effect that PP was confident that PE would be fulfilling the role of DOE and the trust. Not specifically that, but something like it. She could even say that PE would become the DOE in future which was a wedding present from TQ an PP. I just think she can box PC in so that he doesn’t have a choice. If he doesn’t give the title to PE, it would really have the appearance of a petty, mean person. Up to PC how he wants people to view him.

  20. What’s eating you says:

    I don’t feel bad for Edward, he should have accepted a dukedom when the Queen offered it to him when he got married.

    • Rapunzel says:

      This is true, but maybe Edward wanted to have that title because he loved his father? I still say it’s a dick move to take back a wedding gift, which is essentially what this was. Especially since it wasn’t Charles’ gift.

      It’s just a stupid title, but the behavior says so much on Charles’ part.

      • Laura says:

        Is it just a title though?
        I thought I read that it came with money and lands.

      • CourtneyB says:

        @laura no money or lands. Just the sentimentality.

      • HeatherC says:

        Dick moves are common in this family. Or “family” as it goes. Wasn’t Frogmore a wedding “gift?”

      • Ann says:

        I agree it’s a dick move. Who is Charles to take away what Philip gave to his youngest son? So petty. And why? What does he have to gain by alienating his brother and going back on his late father’s promise?

      • BothSidesNow says:

        @ Ann, that’s a good question, what does he benefit from not giving Edward the DoE title, unless the maniacal temper tantrum two year old TOB is holding it hostage as a way to punish his father from seeing his grandchildren, as he has done in the past.

      • equality says:

        Well, same family where H&M ended up paying for a wedding “gift” that they could never really own anyway.

  21. Concern Fae says:

    Charles is going to start meddling in governmental affairs when he becomes King and that will probably be the end of them all. He really doesn’t understand that just because you want your relatives to start paying their own way, without drawing any attention to themselves, doesn’t mean that it is possible, or that they might have their own ideas about the matter.

    Charles reminds me of John Dashwood, who promised his dying father to care for his widow and younger sisters, but promptly kicked them out of the house and didn’t give them enough money for a suitable house and servants. This isn’t going to end well.

    • Jaded says:

      And John Dashwood’s scheming wife Fanny was behind it….I think Camilla, as quietly hard working as she is, has a lot of influence with Charles. Remember how she reacted when asked if she would miss Meghan and Harry? She smirked and rolled her eyes at the reporter and just said “course”.

      • Tessa says:

        Camilla works, but I would not call her a hard worker, she’s ahead of Kate though despite her being a lot older than Kate. I think Charles will provide for Camilla in a will and will not leave her at the mercy of William. She can retire and probably live at a royal residence. I don’t know how much influence she has over Charles. Charles does as he pleases. But he cannot divorce her even if he wanted to, she’s set for life.

    • betsyh says:

      Thumbs up for the Jane Austen reference.

  22. Over it says:

    I am enjoying Charles pettiness at this, now if he can use the same iron handed pettiness for the keenbridges and Carole Jenner, I would be tickled pink .lol

    • NotSoSimpleTaylor says:

      He needs to be King before he exposes them. There is good reason he will always beat CarolE at the long game.

  23. NotSoSimpleTaylor says:

    This is a pretty crappy move on Charles’ part and pretty cruel towards the wishes of his parents. The cruelty that Charles has displayed towards his entire family will be the British Monarchy’s undoing. Charles is incredibly Machiavellian in nature and I think he will display other dark triad traits when/if he ascends. I just don’t have a good feeling about his ascension at this point.

    I have long thought this and I will say it (and I’ve probably said this before): I think out of all the Queen’s children, Prince Edward is the most suited to be monarch. That doesn’t mean he’s perfect, just the one who is the most perfect for the job. I would sooner see Edward IX and Elizabeth III (Louise) in an ideal world where his siblings don’t exist. I think in all honesty, both Philip and Elizabeth both felt this way at one point as they compared Charles and Edward. I also think Charles knows this and that is exactly why Edward will get nothing.

    • Liz says:

      I agree that Edward would make a better king than Charles, even with his short-comings. The thing is, almost anyone who isn’t told from birth that they will be king/queen is likely to be a better king/queen cause they would take on the role without bringing to it the sense of entitlement that David, Charles, William, etc had/have. Being the heir apparent contributes directly to being unfit to lead. (Then there are also people who naturally suck, like Andrew, who is unfit without being the heir apparent, but there will always be people like Andrew who are just horrible by nature).

    • notasugarhere says:

      Who on earth would want those two as monarchs? Edward is controlled by Sophie, who is as much a racist meangirl towards Meghan as Kate is.

      • Liz says:

        I mean, it’s a family of assholes, but some are worse than others. My personal hope is that the British monarchy ends in my lifetime. However, in a scenario where the monarchy exists, I think Edward is more suited than Charles to be king, largely because he wasn’t raised believing he would be. Of all the queen’s children, Anne would really be best suited for it but, between Charles and Edward, I’d pick Edward.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Anne is a terrible human, far too much like Philip. Not only is she racist, she is incredibly entitled. Her untrained dogs attacked a child in a public park, and Anne was affronted she was dragged into court to deal with it.

        Edward is a milquetoast controlled by his racist, meangirl wife. I don’t see that as a great future monarch.

        For all his many faults, Charles does the job better than any other POW in history.

    • Jennifer says:

      I really don’t find Edward at all interesting to be able to make an assessment of him, but I totally agree that Charles is just being cruel to all the relatives. Perhaps deliberately if they treat him like crap, I don’t know, but I get that “fuck ’em, burn it to the ground” sort of vibe every time “streamline the monarchy” comes up again. I think Charles is going to piss people off left and right too.

  24. Sakura says:

    A+++ to Sunday for the Buffy reference. So very fitting, indeed!

  25. Lili says:

    Wow! I hope he isn’t going to do the dirty and give it to Harry in an attempt to lure him back.

    • Amy Bee says:

      Harry already has a dukedom. What i do see happening is Charles stripping Harry of his title when he becomes King.

      • NotSoSimpleTaylor says:

        I’ve heard A LOT of rumors pointing towards Charles even stripping him of his prince title and basically relegating him to “bastard.”

      • Sofia says:

        I don’t want to say never say never, especially on a post where said man is thinking of not giving his brother a title but I kinda doubt he will. Even the rota (for the most part) have shut up about the titles and I remember the palace releasing a statement to the times a while back saying “the matter of titles is closed and nothing has changed” or something like that. Plus it sets a precedent of taking away titles for no real reason. If they use the “well they’re not working royals anymore”, well then it could be used to take anybody’s titles including the Kent and Gloucestershire dukedoms.

        But again, I want to stress me saying “never say never”.

      • MsIam says:

        Charles would tank his international rep if he did that. He may be vengeful but he’s not stupid. And he does care very much about his international rep that’s why he won’t come out and say one way or another about the Sussex kid’s titles.

      • CourtneyB says:

        A deprivation of titles requires both Houses of Parliament to approve it and there are very strict rules about the reason. The talk is just so much bluster.

      • ShazBot says:

        There’s an entire aristocracy that definitely does not want the precedent for it to be THAT easy to take back people’s titles. And considering it’s not a unilateral monarch decision and needs a government Bill and it has to get through the House of Lords, made up of those very aristocrats, I can’t see that happening.

      • Tessa says:

        Charles would create a major scandal if he took Harry’s titles away. It would fire up the “Hewitt” gossip, then I think it would be Harry’s turn to file a lawsuit.

      • Merricat says:

        Harry cannot be made a bastard. Seriously, it can’t be done. And even if it were possible, it would cause immense damage to the reputation of the monarchy, which has already suffered quite a bit in recent years.

      • Humbugged says:

        She did not meet Hewitt till Harry was 2 and he is cousins spitting image

      • Alexandria says:

        Harry is bigger than a prince now. I also think Harry knows his Duke title and heck even his line to the throne, can be yanked anytime. It’s the men in grey who don’t want to set a precedence. They have some brains. Sometimes.

      • I’ve never thought Harry was other Diana’s and Charle’s son. That said, and given the Firm’s always looking out for its own interests, I would bet very good money that a senior Royal (or a minion) high up the food chain did a stealth DNA test on Harry almost the minute he was born. Harry is Charles’ son or this old, nasty rumor would have much stronger legs. Given how the ‘gray men’ seem to hate all things Harry these last few years, one of them would have leaked a copy of the results by now if Harry wasn’t Charles son.

      • Tessa says:

        I think this rumor was spread more to hurt Diana than Harry but it is allowed to just sit there so those who did not approve of Harry marrying Meghan, can play that card as an “insult” to Harry for doing “wrong” in their eyes. Charles looked out for the Parker Bowles children more than he did Harry. There was a rumor he was father of Tom and/or Laura but he told his biographer DImbleby the times he was involved with Camilla and squelched the rumors. Pity he did not have the same consideration for his own son. Harry looks so much like Charles and his grandfather Philip, I never saw the need for a DNA test. Charles also wanted to have the spare and he and Diana were still a couple in every way. DIana had indicated she was more or less cut loose after she had the spare and as she put it “Charles went back to his lady.”

      • notasugarhere says:

        Diana had enormous Daddy issues, which is why she had an affair with Hewitt. Google pictures of her father when young and compare to Hewitt.

      • Tessa says:

        I think it was more that he was a soldier and he probably flattered her and she was his “type.” I don’t think it had anything to do with her father. She probably was most serious about Dr. Khan who was of different faith and culture than the Spencers. Yes, Hewitt looked like young Spencer, but wouldn’t she choose another person like him after they broke up. Arguably, I think post Charles, the one she was most serious about Dr. Khan.

      • notasugarhere says:

        There were plenty of other soldiers around, including at least one of her RPOs with whom she was said to have an affair after Hewitt. The look-alike Hewitt issue stands. She targeted a man who looked exactly like a young version of her father for what was likely her first extra-marital affair.

      • anotherlily says:

        Charles cannot strip Harry of his dukedom or his status as a Prince. He cannot remove him,or his children, from the line of succession. The Queen cannot do this and Charles will have no such power when he is King.

        As things stand Harry’s children become HRH Prince and Princess as soon as Charles is King. If Charles seeks to change the current law and restrict HRH status to the children of the firstborn son it will not affect the order of succession and AFAIK Harry’s children will still be Prince and Princess.

  26. Sofia says:

    I agree with posters saying it’s a crappy move towards Ed and Sophie. Don’t care much for them but according to Sophie, Philip is the one who wanted the title to go to Edward. Charles should swallow his pride and honour that. Edward can be a Duke and still not be on the Sovereign Grant list. He’ll just have to do what the other Dukes do for money and thats open his house up to the public.

    • L4frimaire says:

      They have been shameless in the way they are milking Philip’s death. That’s what they are saying Philip wanted but when did he say that? He may have changed his mind in the 30 years or so since he said that. What have the Wessex’s done in the interim? Philips gone, it’s not his decision and never was.

  27. Lady Digby says:

    Since Philip’s death many of Queen’s relatives have scented promotion and using PR to secure their income stream. Charles was always going to dump Andrew after Epstein related antics have cooked his goose.Surprised about withholding title from Edward because someone has to do the bread and butter engagements. Maybe he is cutting a deal with William to gain acceptance of Queen title for Camilla?
    Louis 16th of France declared “After me, the flood!” It certainly looks like Charles will consult his own wishes and NOT be tied to past announcements if this story is true. H+ M have made the right decision to leave this scramble for royal favour of autocratic kings behind them.

  28. Matthew says:

    is it weird that I think it’s hilarious when Charles is a jerk to anyone except Meghan and Harry

    • Over it says:

      Nope. I am with you because I don’t appreciate the way sophie treated Megs or Harry at that cw service or her trying to dis Oprah or how Ed was all we have all experience things in the media, maybe but none of you have experience racism

      • Tessa says:

        I think Edward and Sophie put down Oprah out of jealousy. The two of them could not make a go of their respective businesses and Sophie owed a lot of money due to her business falling apart. Oprah succeeded. Big Time. It made the Wessexes seem very petty.

    • sassafras says:

      I’m kind of with you on this. I have a weird soft spot for Charles (except when he’s being an ass to H&M). Like, yes, he’s had a life of enormous privilege but also, it sucks to wait 70+ years for “your one job” to start when your mom dies. That’s f’d up. And if wants to be a petty ass monarch with scores to settle, I mean… okay? He’s not the first King to do so. This is all just a soap opera for most of us to watch but I also recognize these are real people and I hope they all have therapists.

      • Tessa says:

        Charles realized that his mother was very young when she gave birth to him and very young when he took the throne, I don’t think it should or could have been a surprise to him. Especially when his grandmother lived to be over 100. Charles has enormous privilege plus he is free to speak out on issues and has been for years now. I don’t like Charles, I think he is very cold person and unfortunately he had mentors that made him believe he is the center of the Universe.

      • Tessa says:

        Charles realized that his mother was very young when she gave birth to him and very young when she took the throne, I don’t think it should or could have been a surprise to him. Especially when his grandmother lived to be over 100. Charles has enormous privilege plus he is free to speak out on issues and has been for years now. I don’t like Charles, I think he is very cold person and unfortunately he had mentors that made him believe he is the center of the Universe.

  29. Seaflower says:

    I read some tweets (while going down a rabbit hole somewhere) about this wild theory the Cambridge fans have that this move proves Chuck will abdicate in favour of Will. The arguments used to support the theory were truly deranged.

    • Tessa says:

      william IMO is now no improvement over Charles. If anything he would become very autocratic.

    • Merricat says:

      That will never happen. Lol.

      • Sunday says:

        Charles wouldn’t abdicate, but if I were him I’d definitely reinstate the royal taste tester, and maybe hire an extra security guard or two.

    • notasugarhere says:

      He will never abdicate. And if he did, it emperils all the tax-free private inheritances. They are only tax-free if they go from monarch-to-monarch by death. Not ‘abdicated monarch’ to new monarch. If they tried changing that arrangement, made decades ago by pro-monarchy PM? Pitchforks at the Palace.

  30. Lionel says:

    What’s Charles got against Edward? Andrew I’d understand, but Edward seems harmless. Also, is it not in the power of the Queen to take the title from Charles and give it to Edward while she’s still alive?

    • CourtneyB says:

      No it’s not. Not unless she wants to get parliament involved.

    • Tessa says:

      Charles made some snide comments about Edward. There was a party where the royals went except Edward and Charles made a comment implying Edward was “not up to the job.”and if anything happened Edward would become King.
      Also he got “incandescent” with rage when Edward left Cameras at St. Andrew’s when William attended. I don’t think they are exactly close.

  31. Catherine says:

    Quite frankly, I’ve always believed there was a bigger story as to why Edward wasn’t given a Dukedom when he married and I think Charles’ actions now have to do with whatever the real reason was. It didn’t make sense that they would reserve the DOE for Edward. And whatever was agreed upon in 1999 may not have been something that Charles liked at the time. He was dealing with massive unpopularity in the immediate years after Diana’s death. The Queen and Philip hadn’t yet started to hand any power over to him so he might not have really had any say. I don’t believe Charles would even consider this now if he didn’t have the Queen’s approval. The Queen acquiesced to Charles on the issue of Eugenie and Beatrice becoming working royals even though it infuriated Andrew and he is supposedly her favorite. So any disappointment by the Wessexes would be easy to brush off. Personally, I don’t think Edward should get the title. It is too closely identified with Prince Philip at this point. In the future if there is another female monarch then the title can be recreated for her husband. That should be the standard IMO. The Wessexes can be patrons of the the DOE awards without the title. I do think Charles wants some say in what happens with the DOE awards. He may be concerned that the Wessexes will be poor administrators and that the charity will be poorly run if their is no oversight. Their own private foundation has been poorly run for years.

    • ennie says:

      I think this was done for Philip as he was a prince with a claim for the greek throne who renounced to marryElizabeth, it was maybe important to him, and a way to recognise him. As far as I recall, Victoria’s husband was not given a dukedom, he was Prince Consort, and was given HRH, and other recognitions, maybe, but he was not made a duke. I have no idea of German history because it seems so confusing, like in Italy, there no unity and there were lots of princes, kings dukes, etc.

    • Paisley25 says:

      I thought Edward wasn’t given/didn’t want a dukedom when he married because he and Sophie weren’t working royals back then and wanted to try and make it on their own. They didn’t start working for the family until 2002?

      • sassafras says:

        Yes, I remember it being spun that they wanted to be the independent modern royals… like Meghan and Harry said. Now I’m thinking this is the BP go-to spin when titles aren’t given out for whatever reason (like with Archie.)

      • notasugarhere says:

        I begin to doubt that Edward and Sophie ever wanted to work. Sophie especially. Her business ended up a million in debt, a debt she never paid. She was probably pissed off she wasn’t made a working royal immediately. Now she sees the writing on the wall, knowing they’ll have to sell the lease to Bagshot Park if they aren’t funded by the Sovereign Grant when Charles is king.

    • SmallTalk says:

      At this point, I am thoroughly confused. I thought that the inheritance of titles, particularly dukedoms, was governed by law. If by law eldest son inherits the title and everything associated with it, how could Edward have ever had any expectation of inheriting his father’s title. Since there is an elder son, the title would not revert to the crown to be dispensed by the queen. How would that happen? Can a duke pass over an eldest son and give the title to a younger son? If so, wouldn’t whatever legal steps required need to be taken during the lifetime of the Duke? And if those steps were not taken during Phillip’s lifetime, it means the Queen and Prince Phillip never had *any* intention of giving Edward this title. And if that is true, then the crown used up Edward and Sophie‘s entire lives in its service chasing a prize they could never have. And that in essence was, I think, The plan for Prince Harry and whoever he married. ‘Commit your life to crown and duty, Harry. In turn the Firm will take care of you.’ A promise they had no intention of ever keeping.

      • Sofia says:

        That’s why they’re saying that Edward can only get the title once Charles becomes King. Right now the title is with Charles but once he’s King, all of his titles will merge back to the Crown and can be handed out again like all the other titles. That was the expectation of what Charles would do but apparently not according to this article

  32. Nyro says:

    Good. Should have kept Meghan and Oprah’s name out of their mouths. All those thirsty and petty little interviews and using a Philip’s death to boost their own profiles and now they likely won’t get anything. This is exactly what they deserve.

    • Tessa says:

      What bothers me is that they appear to be pushing Lady Louise onto the media now. She needs a private life and they should give her a good education.

  33. Merricat says:

    I don’t know. It may be as simple as Charles being fond of Scotland and unwilling to give his father’s position to his youngest brother because of the power Charles associates with the position, since Philip was such a presence.

  34. L4frimaire says:

    Some are saying Charles wants to save the title for George to get when he marries but whatever. Don’t feel sorry for the thirsty Wessex’s at all.

  35. Lori says:

    It may just be a matter of letting Philip get cold before they start passing out his things. He was not the Monarch, its not like his titles immediately need to be filled. Edward can carry on the work, and honour his father in the mean time. Charles is not King yet and may not ever be.

    • TeamAwesome says:

      This right here makes the most amount of sense to me even as I fully believe Charles to be capable of all the pettiness attributed to him.

    • sassafras says:

      I was about to say this. Like a family that starts arguing about dad’s watch or books or something and one person is like, can we just wait and process this before we divide up the house?

    • anotherlily says:

      Phillip’s titles automatically passed to Charles as soon as his father died.

  36. Keri says:

    I am no fan of the Wessexes but why is Charles such a mean, petty little man? It’s his little brother and Edward seems to be the most decent one in the bunch of rotten apples. It would cost him nothing to give him the title. I think he and William get off on the power. No wonder Harry bounced. He saw his future of doing all the work while begging for scraps from PWT’s table and said, “Hell no! I’m outta here!” What a horrible way to live.

    • Liz says:

      @Keri I agree. If this is true, I find it absolutely stunning that Charles would act in direct opposition to what are presumably his mother’s wishes (based on BP’s 1999 announcement) and his father’s assumed wish.

      The only thing that would make this make *any* sense is if CH is putting this story out there as a way of making Charles look better after his plan to deny Archie and Lili titles was so poorly received. Like, “it’s not about excluding the black kids! I’m excluding everyone!” If this is their thought process, it’s hilariously stupid.

  37. Jay says:

    Maybe they are concerned that the Scottish people would be unhappy if the Dukedom were simply “awarded” to the fourth brother, even though he doesn’t have an obvious Scottish connection? Or maybe it’s Charles holding the title out as a carrot, like you want the title? Here’s what you can do to demonstrate your loyalty first. Or…could he give it to Camilla and have her be the Duchess of Edinburgh as a compromise for not calling her Queen? I don’t know how that works.

    • BayTampaBay says:

      Charles could make Camilla the Duchess of Edinburgh in her own right, for her lifetime just as Victoria made Cecilia Underwood, Duchess of Inverness in her own right.

      Cecilia Underwood, aka Lady Cecilia Letitia Buggin, was the second wife of Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex, the 6th son of George III

      • Tessa says:

        Camilla has no royal children, so she cannot give the title to Tom who is from her first marriage. I don’t think Camilla would get the title. She has enough titles from the marriage to Charles.

  38. Lizzie says:

    Any chance it could be offered to Archie when he marries?

    • Sofia says:

      No. He can use his father’s subsidiary title (Earl of Dumbarton) if he really wants a title and it’s very very unlikely that he’ll get a title in his own right when he’s the heir to a dukedom. He’s also going to be Duke of Sussex in about 50-60 years.

      • Lizzie says:

        Thanks Sofia. Then I suggest if Edward wants to be a duke he can show up places and claim to be duke of Cambridge, they look almost identical. LOL.

  39. The Other Sarah says:

    I cackled when I read this over the weekend. My mind floats between three guesses: 1) Chaz keeps it as part of streamlining the monarchy (which is peak PR speak for consolidation of power, no?); 2) he keeps it to use as bait to lure Harry back; 3) he gives it to Louis. Whichever option, don’t think Charles likes the idea of the title being out of his control, which it would be if given to Edward and then passed down through Edward’s son James. He wants it tightly held at the center of power.

    • Oona says:

      Or there is a political reason behind not handing out a big Scottish title right now.

  40. aftershocks says:

    ^^ @Lizzie, Archie will inherit the Duke of Sussex title when his father passes. Growing up in the U.S., I doubt that Archie or Lili will be overly concerned about titles or any other royal trappings. Plus, neither Archie’s grandfather nor his uncle would be bestowing anything upon Archie when he marries! Mostly, because Archie is already entitled to inherit his father’s dukedom. But in general, it seems to me that it was Chuck and Willy who were concerned about unborn Archie’s possible skin tone, and ‘how that might look,’ for a British royal! I doubt their negative attitudes toward ‘mixed-race’ Archie have changed.

  41. Miss Melissa says:

    This entire family is a bunch of vile desperate famewhores stabbing each other in the back for publicity.

  42. ADS says:

    Charles is drunk on power, lol.

    • Thirtynine says:

      He’s been waiting decades. He’s had a long time to think about what he’s going to do.

  43. Feebee says:

    I get many don’t have any time for the Wessexes for good reason but terms of the RF, they do the work. They are certainly playing the game for William re the Sussexes

    It sounds like Edward had largely taken over the DoE Awards which is primarily what I think about when I hear ‘Duke of Edinburgh’. Charles was told his Scottish Duke title (Rothesay?) was superior to Edinburgh so by not passing it to Edward seems personal. If Charles wants to be seen as petty and vengeful, good for him. Nobody’s forgotten Tampax Charles. If he wants to cut everyone off, who’s cutting all the ribbons and the little jobs? He probably expects certain members to do that ‘for free’. Abuses of power… what fun to look forward to.

    • notasugarhere says:

      Or he’s using this as a tool to force W&K to work more. They do pathetically little, and should be doing 500 engagements each per year. Charles cannot withhold Duke of Cornwall from William, but he can withhold the Prince of Wales title until William agrees to let Charles arrange all royal work schedules moving forward.

      • Tessa says:

        Charles is catering to William now, and at the expense of Harry and Meghan IMO where he appeared to let William call the shots. I hope he does not give the Prince of Wales to William right away. But I think Charles really won’t change much, with the catering to William. A shame.

      • notasugarhere says:

        I think he’s sitting back, waiting for William to fail and come to him for help. Especially in getting rid of Kate-and-Middletons and how to make them go quietly. Neither Charles nor William will want dueling Princesses of Wales out there. If William wants to divorce Kate, he’s going to need his father’s help to delay handing out the POW title until after Kate is out of the picture.

  44. Lizzie says:

    Will he make the elegant prince wait a long time for POW?

  45. NomNom says:

    So they’re an earl and a countess with ultra-comfortable lifestyles, but it’s not enough? When will these self-important dough holes be satisfied? Not a fan of royalty, but good on Prince Charles if he doesn’t give them the title.

  46. JRenee says:

    Is there income associated with this dukedom?

  47. Tamsin says:

    it’s curious why this whole issue is up for discussion. Edward cannot accede to the title until both his parents are dead (a rather gruesome circumstance to be finally getting your wedding present) because technically, a title is inherited by the eldest son, which is why technically Charles is the current Duke of Edinburgh. Also technically the queen is the dowager Duchess of Edinburgh (although it’s like a billionaire wife inheriting her husband’s million dollar fortune). Nothing can happen until after the queen dies. It is Charles’ right to use the title of Duke of Edinburgh now, although it would be disgustingly unseemly. This title might be meaningless if Scotland leaves the UK by the time Edward is due to inherit.

    • Liz says:

      @Tamsin I agree – the timing around this is very, very curious. There’s no point to this story because the timing is so off, but it does make Charles look bad, which may be the point? I had originally thought CH put this out as another example of the slimming down plan, but others above have suggested William’s people put it out and I think that makes way more sense. Or the Wessexes somehow got it out there in an attempt to cause backlash and force Charles to announce that he in fact will hand it over to Edward eventually. The story doesn’t seem to have tons of traction though, so if that was their plan, I don’t know that it’s working.

      Also, what a great point about Scotland potentially (hopefully) leaving the UK and making this all a moot point for Edward.

  48. Woo woo says:

    “…and all you bitches are on notice”.

    GOLD. Why I love this website.