Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prince Edward |
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| Duke of Edinburgh (more) | |||||
Edward in 2022
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| Born | 10 March 1964 Buckingham Palace, London, England |
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| House | Windsor | ||||
| Father | Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh | ||||
| Mother | Elizabeth II | ||||
| Alma mater | Jesus College, Cambridge (BA) | ||||
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (born Edward Antony Richard Louis on 10 March 1964) is a member of the British royal family. He is the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He is also the youngest brother of King Charles III. When he was born, he was third in line to the line of succession to the British throne. Today, he is 15th in line.
Edward was born at Buckingham Palace in London. He went to Heatherdown School and Gordonstoun. Before going to university, he spent time teaching in New Zealand. He then studied history at Jesus College, Cambridge, and graduated in 1986. After a short time in the Royal Marines, he worked in theatre and television. He even started his own company called Ardent Productions.
In 2002, Edward began working full-time for the royal family. He takes part in many events and supports over 70 charities. His work often focuses on the arts, sports, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. This award helps young people with fitness, well-being, and community service.
Edward was given the title of Earl of Wessex before he married Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999. They have two children: Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex. In 2019, his mother gave him the extra title of Earl of Forfar. On his 59th birthday in 2023, his brother King Charles III made him the Duke of Edinburgh. This important title was previously held by their father.
Contents
Early Life and Education
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Prince Edward was born on 10 March 1964, at Buckingham Palace in London. He is the fourth and youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He is the most recent child born to a reigning British monarch. His father was present at his birth. Edward was baptised on 2 May 1964 at Windsor Castle.
Like his older siblings, Charles, Anne, and Andrew, Edward had a governess for his early education. He later attended Heatherdown School in Berkshire. After that, he went to Gordonstoun in Scotland, where he became head boy in his final term.
After leaving school, Edward spent a year abroad. He worked as a tutor and teacher at the Wanganui Collegiate School in New Zealand. When he returned to the UK, Edward studied history at Jesus College, Cambridge. He graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
After University
Royal Marines
After graduating in 1986, Edward joined the Royal Marines. They had helped pay for his studies at Cambridge, expecting him to serve. In January 1987, he decided to leave the commando training course. He had completed about one-third of the 12-month training. Edward later said that his father did not pressure him to change his mind. Buckingham Palace stated that Edward's decision came after "much consideration." He left with regret, deciding that military service was not his long-term career.
Theatre and Television Work
After leaving the Royal Marines, Edward decided to work in entertainment. He helped create a musical called Cricket in 1986 for his mother's 60th birthday. This led to a job at Really Useful Theatre Company. There, he worked as a production assistant on famous musicals like The Phantom of the Opera and Cats.
Edward's first television project was a charity event called The Grand Knockout Tournament in 1987. He and his siblings, Anne and Andrew, along with Andrew's wife Sarah, led teams to raise money. The event raised over £1,500,000 for charities.
Ardent Productions
In 1993, Edward started his own television production company, Ardent Productions. The company made several documentaries and dramas. One documentary Edward made about his great-uncle Edward VIII in 1996 was very popular worldwide.
In March 2002, Edward announced he would step down from Ardent Productions. He wanted to focus more on his public duties and support the Queen during her Golden Jubilee year. Ardent Productions closed down in June 2009.
Marriage and Family
Edward first met Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1987. They met again in 1993 and began their relationship. In December 1998, Edward proposed to Sophie while on holiday in the Bahamas. Their engagement was announced on 6 January 1999.
Their wedding took place on 19 June 1999 at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. This was a smaller, less formal wedding than those of his older brothers. On his wedding day, Prince Edward was given the title of Earl of Wessex. He also received the title of Viscount Severn.
Edward and Sophie have two children. Their daughter, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, was born on 8 November 2003. Their son, James Mountbatten-Windsor (now Earl of Wessex), was born on 17 December 2007. Since 2023, Edward's children are known as the children of a duke. The family lives at Bagshot Park. Their official London office is at Buckingham Palace.
Royal Activities and Charity Work
In 1999, the Earl and Countess of Wessex started their foundation, the Wessex Youth Trust. This trust helps charities that provide opportunities for children and young people. Edward supports many organizations, including the British Paralympic Association and the Commonwealth Games Federation. He also supports various arts groups like the National Youth Theatre and the London Mozart Players.
Edward has taken on many duties from his father, Prince Philip. He has opened the Commonwealth Games in New Zealand (1990) and Malaysia (1998). He became vice-patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation in 2006. He also plays a big role in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) scheme. He attends Gold Award ceremonies around the world.
Edward himself received the DofE's gold medal in 1986. He has been a trustee of the DofE since 1988. In 2015, he became Chair of trustees for the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award. In 2023, he was named patron of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. He works hard to promote the charity's work. In 2018, he played on all 50 real tennis courts around the world. This raised over £2 million for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme.
In June 2011, Edward visited Baltimore to meet students. He encouraged them to join the Duke of Edinburgh's Award program. In December 2011, he and Sophie visited troops in Afghanistan. They also visited Bahrain.
In February and March 2012, the couple visited the Caribbean for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. They visited several islands, including Saint Lucia and Barbados. In 2013, they visited South Africa.
In 2015, Edward received the President's Medal from the Badminton World Federation. This was for his help with badminton projects. In May 2016, the Earl visited Ghana. He presented awards to young people for their participation in the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Scheme. In September 2016, Edward traveled to Chile. He visited projects related to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award's diamond anniversary.
In October 2017, the Earl and Countess represented the Queen in Brunei. In February 2018, they toured Sri Lanka for its 70th Independence Day. In April 2018, the Earl visited Australia for the XXI Commonwealth Games. He also attended fundraising events for the Duke of Edinburgh Award challenges.
The Wessex Youth Trust changed its name to the Earl and Countess of Wessex Charitable Trust. It continues to work with charities and has expanded its focus beyond just children and young people.
In July 2019, the Earl and Countess visited Forfar. This was their first official visit since the Queen gave Prince Edward the additional title Earl of Forfar in March 2019. In 2020, he took over the patronage of London Youth from his father.
In February 2022, Edward became president of the Royal Windsor Horse Show. This role was previously held by his father. In March 2022, he visited Kenya to check on the progress of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award there. In April 2022, the Earl and Countess toured Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda. This was to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
After he became Duke of Edinburgh on his 59th birthday in 2023, Edward and Sophie visited Edinburgh. They met with members of the Ukrainian and Eastern European communities in the city. Edward also became patron of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. In 2024, he served as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Titles and Honours
Titles and Styles
Before his marriage, Edward was known as "His Royal Highness The Prince Edward". On 19 June 1999, he became "His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex". It was announced that he would eventually become Duke of Edinburgh, a title his father held. On 10 March 2019, his 55th birthday, Edward was given the extra title of Earl of Forfar for use in Scotland. On his 59th birthday, 10 March 2023, Edward was created Duke of Edinburgh. He is now known as "His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh". This ducal title is not passed down to his children.
In 1994, a group in Estonia asked Queen Elizabeth II if Prince Edward could become King of Estonia. They called him "a young British prince much admired by Estonians." Buckingham Palace politely declined the offer.
Honours
Edward has received several important honours. He is a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. He is also an Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. He is a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. In 2013, Edward received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bath.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
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| 1996 | Edward on Edward | host, associate producer |
| 1996 | Castle Ghosts of Scotland | executive producer |
| 1996 | Castle Ghosts of Ireland | executive producer |
| 1997 | Network First | producer (1 episode) |
| 1998 | Crown and Country | host, executive producer |
| 1999 | Stars Over Mississippi | executive producer |
| 2000 | When Cameras Cross the Line | executive producer |
| 2000 | Once Upon a Christmas | producer |
| 2001 | Tales from the Tower | executive producer |
| 2001 | Varian's War | executive producer |
| 2001 | Twice Upon a Christmas | executive producer |
| 2003 | Out of the Ashes | executive producer |
| 2015 | Whatever Happened to the Windsors? | narrator |
See also
In Spanish: Eduardo de Edimburgo para niños
