On his 61st birthday this Monday, Prince Edward received warm birthday wishes from King Charles and Queen Camilla.
The royal couple honored the Duke of Edinburgh with a heartfelt message, sharing a photo from Edward’s recent visit to Railworld Wildlife Haven in Peterborough. Their post on social media read: “Happy Birthday to The Duke of Edinburgh!”
In addition to the birthday celebration, Edward announced that he will be the patron of the Royal Tennis Court at Hampton Court Palace. His association with the sport traces back to his university years when he played Real Tennis as part of his Gold Award.
However, he will not be attending the Commonwealth Day service later in the day, where King Charles will lead the nation in honoring the Family of Nations. The King will be accompanied by Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and a congregation of 2,000 at Westminster Abbey.
Edward was bestowed the title of Duke of Edinburgh by his elder brother, King Charles, in March 2023, a poignant tribute to their late father, Prince Philip.
Buckingham Palace had previously indicated that Edward would eventually succeed his father as the Duke of Edinburgh, but only after the passing of both Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II. It’s worth noting that the title is not hereditary and will revert to the Crown upon Edward’s death, rather than passing to his son, James, Earl of Wessex.
Outside of royal responsibilities, Prince Edward is married to Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, with whom he has two children: Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex.
During their recent six-day trip to Nepal in February, the couple shared insights into their 25-year marriage.
Edward described their bond simply: “Because we’re best friends,” while Sophie added, “That’s true.” They both emphasized the importance of humor, especially when traveling, with Sophie noting, “You’ve got to laugh.” When discussing their competitive spirits, Edward quipped, “Always. Got to be competitive going up those hills.”
