Prince Edward has been appointed the new Duke of Edinburgh on his 59th birthday, following in the footsteps of his father, Prince Philip.
However, the previous holders of the title have had difficult times, including Prince Frederick, who died aged 44 after being hit by a cricket ball, and Prince Alfred, who was shot in the back and later died from throat cancer. Meanwhile, King George III, who held the title during the American War of Independence, succumbed to insanity later in life.
Prince Edward will now hope to avoid the troubles faced by his predecessors. The title will only remain with him for his lifetime, and will then revert to the Crown. Edward’s wife, Sophie, will become the Duchess of Edinburgh, while their son James, Viscount Severn, will become the Earl of Wessex.
Prince Frederick, the first holder of the dukedom, was disliked by his parents, with his mother even wishing for him to be “out of it.”
Despite being a man of many talents, including music and sport, he was unhappy with his allowance and political power. His son, King George III, inherited the title and became King.
Although his reign will always be associated with the loss of the American War of Independence, he was praised for his support of the arts and his liberal approach to unrest in America. However, he later descended into madness.
Prince Alfred, Queen Victoria’s second son, was nearly killed by an attempted assassination during a tour of Australia in 1868. His son, also named Alfred, died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, leading to his own depression and eventual death.
In contrast, Prince Philip’s time as Duke of Edinburgh was impressive, marked by his achievements in the Royal Navy, his successful pilot career, and the creation of the Duke of Edinburgh award, which has been completed by millions of young people worldwide. He was a devoted consort to the Queen, who described him as her “strength and stay.”
Prince Edward has his own impressive record as a working royal, but he will have big shoes to fill if he is granted the Duke of Edinburgh title by his brother.
»Dukes of Edinburgh Throughout History«
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