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The Queen has one daughter, Princess Anne, and three sons: Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Both Prince Andrew and Prince Edward received royal titles when they married. But Edward would have decades to wait before he received another title Andrew was actually given on his wedding day.

Upon his marriage to Sarah Ferguson in 1986, Prince Andrew became the Duke of York, the Earl of Inverness and the Baron Killyleagh.

As a result, his Scottish titles are used whenever Prince Andrew visits the country.

Prince Charles was awarded the title of Duke of Rothesay in 1952, so he and his wife Camilla are known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay across the border.

Yet despite marrying Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999, Prince Edward did not receive any Scottish titles until 2019.

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As a present for his 55th birthday, the Queen appointed Edward and Sophie the Earl and Countess of Forfar for whenever they visit Scotland.

Writing on Twitter, the Royal Family announced: ‘Wishing The Earl of Wessex a very happy birthday.

“The Queen has been pleased to grant The Earl of Wessex the additional title of Earl of Forfar.

“Their Royal Highnesses will use the title The Earl and Countess of Forfar when in Scotland.”

Edward and Sophie visited Forfar for their first official visit in July 2019.

It is not known why Edward had such a long wait for his Scottish title, but it is said the Queen’s youngest son has not been conventional with royal titles in the past.

Members of the Royal Family are usually offered dukedoms when they marry.

For example, Prince William and Kate Middleton became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle became the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018.

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But Prince Edward has bucked the trend, as he and his wife Sophie are known as the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

Edward was said to be offered the dukedoms of Cambridge or Sussex for his wedding, but turned them down in favour of an earldom, which ranks lower than a dukedom in the British peerage system.

Edward reportedly liked the character of Lord Wessex in the film Shakespeare in Love.

Because of this, the Queen is said to have humoured her son, and offered him the same title.

A courtier told the Sunday Telegraph: “Prince Edward was going to be the Duke of Cambridge, but he watched the film Shakespeare in Love, which had a character called the Earl of Wessex.

“He liked the sound of it and asked the Queen if he could have that instead.”

Prince Edward is likely to inherit the title of Duke of Edinburgh after his father Prince Philip.

In the future, this may mean the couple become known as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

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