Duke of Edinburgh

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Duke of Edinburgh ( Duke of Edinburgh) is a hereditary British title of nobility . It has been awarded four times within the British royal family since 1726 ; the current bearer is Prince Philip , husband of Queen Elizabeth II. He is named after the Scottish capital Edinburgh .

Awards

The title was first awarded on July 26, 1726 in the Peerage of Great Britain to Friedrich Ludwig von Hannover , the eldest son of Georg, Prince of Wales . Along with the Dukedom, he was awarded the subordinate titles of Marquess of the Isle of Ely , Earl of Eltham , Viscount Launceston and Baron Snowdon . When his father became King of Great Britain as George II, Friedrich Ludwig also received the title of Prince of Wales . After his death, the title passed to his son Georg . When this as Georg III. ascended the British throne, the title was united with the British royal crown.

King George III bestowed the title on November 19, 1764 to his younger brother William Henry . The title was expanded to include the Dukedom Gloucester and was now Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh . The title was awarded along with the subordinate title Earl of Connaught . After the death of Wilhelm Heinrich, the title passed to his only son, William Frederick . He died childless, and the title expired.

The next bearer, now again exclusively as Duke of Edinburgh , was the second son of Queen Victoria , Prince Alfred , who later became Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha . This award took place on May 24, 1866 in the Peerage of the United Kingdom , along with the subordinate titles Earl of Ulster and Earl of Kent . After the death of Alfred, who had no male descendant, the title expired again.

Most recently, the title of King George VI. on November 20, 1947, one day before the wedding of his daughter Elizabeth II , bestowed on her future husband Philip Mountbatten, along with the subordinate titles Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich .

Future award

The British royal family announced at the wedding of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex , to Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones that Prince Edward would later receive the title of Duke of Edinburgh .

However, he cannot inherit the title from his father, Prince Philip, as, in the absence of any other provision, this title will be passed on to the eldest son, Prince Charles , upon his death after his death . If Charles were already king when his father died, the title would unite with the crown and could be re-awarded immediately. If Charles is not king at this point, he will hold the title until he comes to the throne; then the title unites with the crown and could be bestowed on Prince Edward. Should Charles die before his mother, the dignity would pass to his eldest son, Prince William .

List of the Dukes of Edinburgh

Dukes of Edinburgh, first bestowal (1726)

Dukes of Gloucester and Edinburgh (1764)

Dukes of Edinburgh, second award (1866)

Dukes of Edinburgh, third award (1947)

Title heir ( Heir Apparent ) is the eldest son of the current title holder, Charles, Prince of Wales (* 1948).

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