A Palace source has revealed that Prince Edward could be a casualty of King Charles’ attempt to streamline the monarchy.
It has been revealed that Edward, who is the Earl of Wessex, is now unlikely to take up the title of the Duke of Edinburgh despite it being expected that he would inherit his late father’s title.
When Prince Philip passed away last year, the royal title was handed down to Charles but it seems as though it may not be handed to Edward under the new King.
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Both the Queen and Philip said that the title would be passed to Edward “in due course” when he tied the knot with Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999, the Mirror reports.
But under Charles’ plans to slim down the monarchy the title may not be given to his younger brother.
“The King wants to slim down the monarchy [so] it wouldn't make sense to make the Earl the Duke of Edinburgh,” a palace source told The Daily Mail.
"The King wants to slim down the monarchy, as is well known. That means it wouldn't make sense to make the Earl the Duke of Edinburgh. It's a hereditary title which would then be passed on to the Earl and Countess of Wessex's son, James, Viscount Severn," said the source.
"Essentially, this was accepted by the Earl when he agreed that his children would not be a prince or princess."
The situation is believed to be very different to 1999 when Edward became married and Charles agreed for his brother to inherit their father’s title.
At the time Buckingham Palace said 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.”
Edward has previously stated how the final decision remains with Charles.
Edward told the BBC : “It was fine in theory, ages ago when it was sort of a pipe dream of my father’s .... and of course it will depend on whether or not the Prince of Wales, when he becomes King, whether he’ll do that, so we’ll wait and see. So yes, it will be quite a challenge taking that on.”
The Mirror has contacted the Palace for comment.
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