What happens to Prince Philip’s Duke of Edinburgh title after his death

After Prince Philip’s death, the Duke of Edinburgh’s title has now been passed on to two other members of the royal family.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s title has now been passed to Prince Charles but will eventually be taken by younger sibling Prince Edward.

In keeping with the Letters Patent issued when George VI gave Philip the title in 1947, the Prince of Wales Charles as the duke’s eldest son inherits the title the Duke of Edinburgh.

But on Prince Charles’ eventual accession to the throne, the title will be “regranted” anew to his younger brother Edward in recognition of his work with and commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, of which he is a trustee.

The international youth awards program, that in Australia attracts 40,000 youths a year to perform charity volunteering work and other community deeds, was seen as Prince Philip’s greatest legacy.

The Duke of Edinburgh had a passion for sports, and played an influential part in the administration of many sporting and recreation charities in the role of President or Patron.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales visits the gardens of Marlborough House, London, to view the flowers and messages left by members of the public outside Buckingham Palace. Picture: Getty

Aimed at both able-bodied and disabled youngsters, it became one of the best known global self-development and adventure schemes for 14 to 24-year-olds.

Edward is the only one of the monarch’s four children not to hold a dukedom but when he married in 1999 the palace announced the hereditary title would be passed to him.

Prince Edward’s wife the Countess of Wessex will also eventually become the Duchess of Edinburgh, a courtesy title which was held by the Queen.

Britain's Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and his daughter Britain's Lady Louise Windsor view flowers outside St George's Chapel, at Windsor Castle in Windsor. Picture: AFP

Ahead of the funeral, Prince Edward thanked holders and participants of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for sharing their memories of his father and their experiences of the scheme in condolences from around the world including Australia.

“He may have departed this world, but his spirit and ethos lives on through his award, through each and every life touched, transformed, inspired; then, now and in the future,” he said.

Philip was the sixth person to bear the title the Duke of Edinburgh, the first was George I’s grandson Prince Frederick, later the Prince of Wales, for whom the title was first created in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1726. George VI gave Philip the titles of the Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich in the Peerage of the United Kingdom shortly before his marriage to Princess Elizabeth on November 20 1947.

Originally published as What happens to Prince Philip’s Duke of Edinburgh title after his death