Prince Charles and Prince Edward.Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty
Prince Charlesis said to be considering whether or not to pass on his late father’s royal title to his brotherPrince Edward.
Charles inheritedPrince Philip’s Duke of Edinburgh title when his father died in April.
When Charles becomes King, the title will merge with the Crown. Then the new monarch can decide whether to bestow it on his brother or another member of the family — or hold it in abeyance for a time in the future.
Another source added, “Edinburgh won’t go to [the Wessexes] as far as the prince is concerned.”
Prince Philip and Prince Charles.Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images
A spokesperson for Charles tells PEOPLE, “All stories of this nature are speculation and no final decisions have been taken. It would be inappropriate and disrespectful to the Queen to comment on matters of accession and we will be maintaining our long-standing policy of not doing so.”
Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
Edward, 57, and Sophie, 56, are close to the Queen, 95, and have been championing Philip’s Duke of Edinburgh Award, with Edward serving as a trustee of the youth organization. They have also become more prominent family members publicly both sincePhilip’s deathin April and sincePrince HarryandMeghan Marklestepped away from their roles as working royals.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex have taken part in a number of interviews, including one with theDaily Telegraphin which Sophie recalled Philip coming to see them a couple of days after their engagement. “We sat there slightly stunned,” she shared. “He literally came straight in and said: ‘Right. I’d like it very much if you would consider that.'”
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And Edward pointed out that the title arguably should have been reserved for the slightly olderPrince Andrew, but the Queen gave him the royal title of Duke of York title on his wedding day.
“It’s a very bittersweet role to take on because the only way the title can come to me is after both my parents have actually passed away,” Edward said. “It has to go back to the Crown first. My father was very keen that the title should continue, but he didn’t quite move quickly enough with Andrew, so it was us who he eventually had the conversation with. It was a lovely idea; a lovely thought.”
source: people.com
