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Prince Edward, 56, and his wife Sophie became the Earl and Countess of Wessex when they married in 1999. Queen Elizabeth II traditionally gifts dukedoms to her sons and grandsons as wedding gifts but her youngest son Edward is understood to have chosen to be made an Earl instead.

A royal insider claimed Edward’s admiration for the Wessex character in the film Shakespeare in Love prompted him to reject the Queen’s offer of the dukedom of Cambridge and ask to be Wessex instead.

Shedding light on how Edward became the Earl of Wessex, a source told the Telegraph in 2010: “He liked the sound of it and asked the Queen if he could have that instead.”

Prince Charles is first in line to the throne and as the Queen’s eldest son holds the dukedom of Cornwall, which will likely pass to Prince William when Charles becomes king.

The Queen and Prince Philip’s middle son Prince Andrew was made the Duke of York on his wedding day in 1986.

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While the title of Earl is lower down the peerage system than that of Duke it is understood Edward will become the Duke of Edinburgh on Prince Philip’s death.

Prince Philip was made the Duke of Edinburgh shortly before his marriage to then Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, in 1947.

He has brought a certain notoriety to the title through his highly successful Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

Prince Edward has taken on the mantle for the Duke of Edward award programme following his father’s retirement and will one day be the Duke of Edinburgh himself.

Prince Edward’s future title explained

As the Queen and Prince Philip’s son Edward was born with an HRH style but is due to inherit his father’s peerage.

According to one royal expert the Duke of Edinburgh title will go to Edward to “ensure its survival.”

Expert Iain MacMarthanne is writing a doctorate that focusses on the British monarchy and has shed light on the decision surrounding Philip’s dukedom.

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Mr MacMarthanne told Express.co.uk: “In respect of the dukedom of Edinburgh it was felt to ensure its survival that it should pass to another of his sons – this being Prince Edward.”

Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward are both full-time working members of the Royal Family and have shone in their roles during the coronavirus crisis.

The couple have volunteered at community projects near their Surrey home Bagshot Park during lockdown.

Sophie and Edward have two children – Lady Louise Windsor, 16, and Viscount James Severn, 12.

In a recent interview with the Sunday Times Magazine, Sophie revealed she expects both her children to have normal jobs when they grow up.

The Countess told Times correspondent Christina Lamb: “We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living.

“Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles.

“They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but I think it’s highly unlikely.”

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