THE title of the Duke of Edinburgh has today (April 9, 2021) been passed on after Prince Philip's death aged 99.
Tributes have flooded in to remember the Royal following seven decades of service – we look at who will take Philip's title following his passing.
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Who is the new Duke of Edinburgh?
Prince Charles, who is the heir to the throne, today inherited his father’s title of the Duke of Edinburgh.
Prince Philip was granted the title of Duke of Edinburgh on the day of his wedding to Queen Elizabeth on November 20 1947.
In keeping with royal tradition, the title of the Duke of Edinburgh has immediately been passed to his eldest son Prince Charles.
But the title will in fact be inherited by Philip’s youngest son Prince Edward on Charles’ eventual accession to the throne.
Why has Prince Charles inherited the title?
Prince Charles has inherited the title for now in keeping with royal custom – but it will later be passed on to Prince Edward.
In 1999, Buckingham Palace announced that Edward would succeed his father in the Dukedom with the blessing of the Queen and Prince Philip.
On Charles’ eventual accession to the throne, the title will merge with the crown – meaning the new King can grant Edward the title of Duke of Edinburgh.
Prince Edward, who is currently the Earl of Wessex, has already taken a number of his father’s patronages.
He is a trustee of the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme and a patron of the Edinburgh International Festival.
It also means that Edward’s wife the Countess of Wessex will become the Duchess of Edinburgh – a title once held by the Queen.
What does the title mean and what is the Duke of Edinburgh's role?
The title has been created three times for members of the Royal Family since 1726. It was first given to Prince Frederick by his grandfather King George I.
Over a century later, Queen Victoria created the title in 1866 for her second son Prince Alfred.
It is a substantive title – meaning it is acquired either by inheritance or individual grant.
Prince Philip was granted the title of Duke of Edinburgh on the day of his wedding to Queen Elizabeth on November 20 1947.
The Duke of Edinburgh was president, patron or member of over 780 organisations.
What is the Duke of Edinburgh award?
The Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) youth awards programme for 14 to 24-year-olds attracts around 300,000 young people annually.
The schemes see youngsters set themselves outdoor, community or sporting challenges.
Participants aim for bronze, silver or gold awards which can take from between three to 18 months to complete.
The awards were launched by Prince Philip in 1956 and was aimed at teenage boys who were not interested in joining other youth movements such as the Scouts.
The Duke of Edinburgh said the programme has "has helped countless young people on their sometimes difficult path to adulthood".
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