Prince Edward has been bestowed with the title of Duke of Edinburgh by his older brother, Prince Charles, on the occasion of his 59th birthday. The title was previously held by their late father,

Prince Philip, who served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War and had a long-standing association with the Armed Forces. Prince Edward has a distinguished military career of his own, having held various military appointments, including Royal Honorary Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry and The London Guards and Royal Colonel of 2nd Battalion The Rifles. Although he did not serve in the military, he spent some time as a Royal Marines officer cadet in the 1980s.

As a working member of the Royal Family, Prince Edward often wears a military uniform for ceremonial events. At the Queen's funeral, he wore the Blues Uniform with the rank of Honorary Royal Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry, with the Garter Star and Sash and the Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) star. He also wore various medals, including the Silver, Gold, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals, the New Zealand Medal, and the Canadian Forces Medal.

In addition to his military appointments in the UK, Prince Edward also holds three military positions in Canada, as Colonel-in-Chief of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, the Prince Edward Island Regiment, and the Saskatchewan Dragoons. He has visited the 2nd Battalion The Rifles at their base in Northern Ireland regularly and has been on operational duties, including in Afghanistan with his wife, the Countess of Wessex, in 2009, and most recently in Estonia.

The title of Duke of Edinburgh was created for Prince Philip in 1947 upon his marriage to Princess Elizabeth, who later became Queen Elizabeth II. The title was hereditary, but it will not pass down to Prince Edward's son, James, Viscount Severn, when he dies. Viscount Severn will become the Earl of Wessex and Forfar, and the title of Duke of Edinburgh will revert to the Crown.

The decision to confer the title on Prince Edward was made by Prince Charles, who is next in line to the throne. It was done in honor of the late Queen and Prince Philip's wishes, and it ensures that Prince Philip's legacy of promoting opportunities for young people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential continues.

The title change comes after another title change this week when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex began officially using the titles Prince and Princess for their children Archie and Lilibet. The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, will continue to support the Royal Family in their various duties and engagements. Photo by Northern Ireland Office, Wikimedia commons.