Prince Edward and Sophie Step Out in Scotland as the New Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

Simon Perry
·3 min read
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Prince Edward and Sophie Step Out in Scotland as the New Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh
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Prince Edward and Sophie are in the city of their new titles.

A few hours after Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles had given his younger brother a 59th birthday present by conferring the title of Duke of Edinburgh on him, Prince Edward and Sophie appeared at an official event in the city.

Prince Edward's wife, Sophie, is now the Duchess of Edinburgh — a title last held by her mother-in-law, the late Queen Elizabeth. The couple's 15-year-old son, James, now holds Edward's previous title of Earl of Wessex.

They met with members of the Ukrainian community at Edinburgh's City Chambers to mark one year since the city's formal response to the invasion of Ukraine. During the reception, Prince Edward and Sophie met members of the Ukrainian and Eastern European diaspora in Edinburgh, including families who have made the city their home since the beginning of the conflict last year.

RELATED: Why Prince Edward's New Title Won't Pass Down to Son James — and May Go to Princess Charlotte Someday

The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Britain's Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (R) and Britain's Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (centre right) meet members of the public as they attend a ceremony at the City Chambers in Edinburgh to mark one year since the city's formal response to the invasion of Ukraine
The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Britain's Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (R) and Britain's Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (centre right) meet members of the public as they attend a ceremony at the City Chambers in Edinburgh to mark one year since the city's formal response to the invasion of Ukraine

JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

In a speech, Prince Edward said, "Thank you very much indeed for welcoming us to Edinburgh today on, indeed, a very special and slightly overwhelming day." He then referred to Sophie as "my wife and Duchess," prompting laughs from the crowd.

"But I also want to express my thanks to everyone who has worked so hard to make our Ukraine friends feel so very welcome," he added.

Britain's Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (L) and Britain's Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (R) attend an event at the City Chambers in Edinburgh to mark one year since the city's formal response to the invasion of Ukraine on March 10, 2023. - Britain's King Charles III on Friday awarded his younger brother Edward the title Duke of Edinburgh, in line with the wishes of the late Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip.

JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP via Getty Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

The previous holder of the Duke of Edinburgh title was King Charles and Prince Edward's late father, Prince Philip. When he died in 2021, the title had passed to Charles as his eldest son. On Friday morning, the King's office said that he had awarded it to Prince Edward.

The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Britain's Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (L) and Britain's Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (R) pose for a photograph with Marianna Melnyk, aged 10, from the Ukrainian community at the City Chambers in Edinburgh to mark one year since the city's formal response to the invasion of Ukraine on March 10, 2023. - Britain's King Charles III on Friday awarded his younger brother Edward the title Duke of Edinburgh, in line with the wishes of the late Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip.

JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP via Getty

In their statement, the palace said, "His Majesty The King has been pleased to confer the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar, on the occasion of His Royal Highness's 59th birthday," Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Friday. "The title will be held by Prince Edward for His Royal Highness's lifetime."

The new Duchess of Edinburgh, Britain's Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (R) meets Marianna Melnyk, aged 10, from the Ukrainian community at the City Chambers in Edinburgh to mark one year since the city's formal response to the invasion of Ukraine on March 10, 2023. - Britain's King Charles III on Friday awarded his younger brother Edward the title Duke of Edinburgh, in line with the wishes of the late Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip.

JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP via Getty

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"The Dukedom was last created for Prince Philip in 1947, upon his marriage to Princess Elizabeth, who held the title of Duchess of Edinburgh before acceding to the throne in 1952," the release added. "The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are proud to continue Prince Philip's legacy of promoting opportunities for young people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential."

RELATED: Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet's Titles Updated on Royal Family's Website

Britain's Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (L) and Britain's Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (R) attend an event at the City Chambers in Edinburgh to mark one year since the city's formal response to the invasion of Ukraine on March 10, 2023. - Britain's King Charles III on Friday awarded his younger brother Edward the title Duke of Edinburgh, in line with the wishes of the late Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip.

JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP via Getty Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

In a week full of royal title news, the announcement followed Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's children's titles being updated on the royal family's website on Thursday to read "Prince Archie of Sussex" and "Princess Lilibet of Sussex." They were previously styled as "Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor" and "Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor."

Prince Edward's new status had long been a wish of his father.

In 1999, a statement from Buckingham Palace which announced the couple would be titled the Earl and Countess of Wessex also noted, "The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales have also agreed that the Prince Edward should be given the Dukedom of Edinburgh in due course, when the present title now held by the Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown."

Prince Edward, The new Duke of Edinburgh is seen at the City Chambers in Edinburgh to mark one year since the city's formal response to the invasion of Ukraine on March 10, 2023 in Edinburgh, Scotland. King Charles III has handed his late father's title the Duke of Edinburgh to his brother Prince Edward, honouring the late Queen and Philip's wishes. Charles conferred the title on the former Earl of Wessex in celebration of his 59th birthday

Jane Barlow - Pool/Getty Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh

Towards the end of his life, Prince Edward continued representing Prince Philip at award ceremonies for the Duke of Edinburgh volunteering program for young people, which Queen Elizabeth's husband created.