Prince Edward and Sophie Performed First Engagement as Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

It's a new day indeed for Prince Edward, the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, as he turned 59 on March 10, 2023.

It was also the day that his brother, His Majesty King Charles III, bestowed on him the noble title, Duke of Edinburgh, which was held by their father, Prince Philip, since 1947 until his death in 2021.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh 

It was highly anticipated though, since Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip agreed in 1999 that the title be passed to their youngest child when it reverts to the Crown, meaning when the Queen dies (since Edward can't directly inherit it upon Prince Philip's death because he is only a youngest child and as per nobility rules all titles must be passed to the eldest son).

For their first public engagement as the newly minted Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and Sophie attended a reception at the City Chambers in Edinburgh to recognize Prince Edward's work in supporting Ukrainian refugees.

The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh ©The Royal Family 

The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh ©The Royal Family 

During the event, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh met volunteers and members of the Ukrainian community, Eastern European Diaspora in Edinburgh and their families who made Edinburgh City their home since leaving Ukraine in 2022 due to war.  

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh ©The Royal Family 

HRH Prince Edward the Duke of Edinburgh ©The Royal Family 

Thousands of people lined up the street along the Royal Mile in the Scotland's capital to greet Prince Edward a happy birthday and to congratulate him and Sophie with their new titles, which means a lot to the people in Edinburgh. 

Their only son, James, is now the Earl of Wessex, however, the title of Earl of Forfar, which was bestowed by the Queen to Prince Edward in 2019, and in which Edward has been using when he is in Scotland, will remain under his name, however, he will use officially the Duke of Edinburgh in the whole United Kingdom since it is higher in rank than the earl.

Sophie, The Duchess of Edinburgh. ©The Royal Family 

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh ©The Royal Family 

The Earl of Forfar will be inherited by James upon the death of Prince Edward. But James won't inherit the Duke of Edinburgh title. 

It was not naturally inherited by Prince Edward (only bestowed by the monarch) from Prince Philip since he is not the eldest son. It was King Charles III who directly inherited the title from his father.

Prince Edward and family attend memorial service for Prince Philip. March 2022

When Prince Edward dies, the Duke of Edinburgh title will revert to the Crown and will be available to be conferred by the British monarch to whoever he wishes. 

Sophie is the second woman to carry the title of the Duchess of Edinburgh in modern times since Queen Elizabeth II (1947-1952).

Related story: 

King Charles III Conferred Duke of Edinburgh title to Prince Edward 

Sophie, The Duchess of Edinburgh 

For her first public engagement as Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie wore a gorgeous ocean blue maxi dress from Roksanda and a beautiful double-breasted wool coat in sand white from Max Mara. 

She also wore a pair of nude pumps from Prada. The Duchess of Edinburgh has been a fan of Archduchess Sophia Hapsburg's clutch and pouches creations, and for this engagement she carried an emerald Sophie Hapsburg clutch. Gorgeous!