Prince Edward And Some Questions Answered About Him

Queen Elizabeth II and her family are widely covered by the media, given that the royal family’s members are practically celebrities at this point. With Prince Charles and his lineage in line to the throne, everyone seems to absorb any news about the movements of the family. However, the opposite is true for Prince Edward — the least hyped son of Queen Elizabeth II. Here are some things known about the Earl of Wessex.

What is his position in the line of succession to the throne?

The Queen has four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Born on March 10, 1964, Edward, who the is youngest, currently sits at the 11th spot for succession.

Who are his wife and children?

The prince is married to former public relations consultant Sophie Rhys-Jones, whom he met at a tennis event in 1993. The couple married in 1999 and made a very specific request to keep their ceremony as low key as possible, thereby having no ceremonial state or military involvement. They have two children: Lady Louise Windsor, born in 2003, and James, Viscount Severn, born in 2007.

Why isn’t he called a duke?

Although royal tradition dictates that sons of the Queen are to receive dukedoms upon marriage or majority, the prince and his wife were instead given the respective titles of Earl and Countess of Wessex. This made news back in 1999 when the titles were given, and many questioned why the prince was not made a duke.

Some theorize that it was because he was the “black sheep” of the family. However, this is actually far from the truth. The title was given because Edward chose it since he was very fond of the character Lord Wessex from the film “Shakespeare In Love.”

Is he going to be the next Duke of Edinburgh?

Sources say that the reason he was not named a duke is because the Queen wishes to grant him the title of Duke of Edinburgh when Prince Philip passes away. However, should the Queen pass before her husband, it will be up to Prince Charles to grant the dukedom to his brother.

Is he going to be more visible to the public in the coming years?

It was reported that the Earl and Countess of Wessex have chosen to live away from the limelight. This is for the reason that they value their privacy and wish for their children to have a more “normal” upbringing.

However, this may change as Prince Edward’s father, Prince Philip, retired in 2017. The Earl of Wessex has been taking on the royal duties of his father, pushing him back into the spotlight. With the way things are currently going, we may see more of the alleged future Duke of Edinburgh in the next few years.