Prince Edward received a rather unique birthday present as he turns 59 on March 10. His brother, the King, made him the new Duke of Edinburgh, in accordance with the wishes of his late parents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

The official royal account tweeted, "Happy birthday to the new Duke of Edinburgh."

"The King conferred the Duke of Edinburgh on his brother Prince Edward on his 59th birthday."

Prince Philip was Duke of Edinburgh from his marriage in 1947 until his death in 2021.

Since his marriage in 1999, Prince Edward had been known as the Earl of Wessex, a title he chose for the appropriate reason that he really liked Colin Firth's role in Shakespeare in Love.

It had long been expected that Prince Edward would receive the title, although there were rumors that Princess Charlotte would inherit the Dukedom of Edinburgh instead.

Meanwhile, according to the Express, Edward's wife Sophie, former Countess of Wessex, will become the new Duchess of Edinburgh. The last woman to hold this title was Princess Elizabeth before her accession in 1952.

Edward and Sophie's 15-year-old son James, formerly Viscount Severn, inherits the title from his father and becomes the new Earl of Wessex.

His sister Louise, 19, will continue to be known as Lady Louise Windsor.

Commenting on Prince Edward's new title on Twitter, royal reporter Rebecca English explained, "Unusually, the hereditary title previously held by Prince Philip will only remain while he is alive and revert to the royal family after his death."

This means that James will not become the new Duke of Edinburgh unless such a title is created in the future.