Countess of Wessex

Not sure Lemon! I think, now I'm an old lady that I might get a bit confused to exactly who I was, and who I'm likely to be!!!! It's bad enough as it is!!!!!

You have to be a Princess in your own right, i.e. Princess Anne, Princess Margaret, el al to use your christian name. A commoner can only become Princess 'husbands name'! i.e., Princess Michael. Meghan can call herself Princess Henry, Kate, Princess William, Sophie, Princess Edward and so on. I guess this is why they are given dukedoms on marriage, then they can become the Duchess of ? Children can become Princes/Princess's only if their father is a King/Prince, (if they choose to) but not if their father is a commoner, even though their mother is a Princess in her own right. Again, Princess Anne's children and Princess Margarets.

Niggly I wouldn’t mind being a Countess to ‘tide me over’.....I may write to the Palace about this.

That's right, Jalima. The powers that be wanted Princess Diana to be Princess Charles when not referred to as the Princess of Wales but the public was having none of it!!

Princess Michael of Kent's title puzzled me too but I think she is entitled 'Princess' because of her husband's title and not in her own right, ie she is not Princess Marie-Christine. Her husband, being the younger brother of the Duke is given the title Prince because he is a grandson of a King presumably.

Thanks 'Grans' I knew somebody would have the answer

She had to relinquish the HRH Sassenach but I suppose it is like continuing to call yourself Mrs Jones after you have divorced Mr Jones.

Apparently she is Sarah Duchess of York, if Prince Andrew remarries his new wife will be HRH the Duchess of York.

So I guess that unless she remarries she keeps the title.

Does anyone know why Sarah Ferguson is still titled the Duchess of York even though they divorced? What will she be if Andrew marries again?

Sophie and the children were on the same flight as us, but a few rows in front, a while ago. They looked to be a lovely family and the children were impeccably behaved. She's so beautiful and her daughter is just like her!

Yes, DH was very impressed with her work and the support she gave to a sporting organisation he was involved in. No scandal for her or massive press interest in what she's wearing. Nice woman.

I agree Annsixty, she does draw the cameras so her work gets little publicity

I am now wondering if she also has her own Coat of Arms.
This giving of titles and honours all smacks of Ruritania to me.

I think the Countess of Wessex is a really beautiful woman who does far more than she is given credit for.
She is a real asset to the RF.

I stand corrected Nigglynellie
Glad you have a handle on this as I was merely guessing (in ignorance)

Andrew had his grandfathers title, Anne the title for the first born daughter of the monarch ,

Nothing to do with being 'youngest son' It is, as has been stated, so that P.E can succeed his father to the dukedom of Edinburgh when P.P dies. . If he were D of somewhere else, obviously this wouldn't be possible so he was created an Earl to tide him over so to speak!

He will be Duke of Edinburgh when his father dies,

Because Edward is Earl of Wessex, and the wife of an Earl is a Countess.
Why they didn’t choose to make him a Duke is beyond me. Youngest son perhaps?

I think Prince Philip has chosen the right successor. The D of E award scheme will be in safe hands as Sophie is a keen participant in charity events. Their daughter, Lady Louise, has taken up carriage driving which must be a delight to her grandfather who popularised the sport when he had to give up riding due to arthritis.

Oh I see.

Prince Edward will become the Duke of Edinburgh when Prince Philip dies so Sophie will then become a duchess and I presume their children will go up a notch as well.