New Duke of Edinburgh Prince Edward served as Royal Marines cadet and holds eight military appointments

Prince Edward, the new Duke of Edinburgh, served as an officer cadet in the Royal Marines and adds his late father's Royal title to the eight military titles he holds.

The Duke is following in the footsteps of his father, who over his lifetime earned the respect of the Armed Forces in a career that saw him serving in the Royal Navy during the Second World War and even mentioned in dispatches for his role in the Battle of Cape Matapan.

Charles conferred the title on the former Earl of Wessex, who is the Royal Honorary Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry and The London Guards and Royal Colonel of 2nd Battalion The Rifles, among other military appointments, in celebration of Edward's 59th birthday today, honouring the late Queen and Prince Philip's wishes.

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The Armed Forces

As well as an active military career of his own, which came to an end in 1951, Prince Philip maintained a close association with the Armed Forces in the decades after.

Edward did not serve in the military but spent a short time as a Royal Marines officer cadet after leaving university in the 1980s.

As a working member of the Royal Family, Prince Edward wears a military uniform when present at ceremonial events, as seen throughout the period of mourning the Queen.

At the Queen's funeral, the then Earl of Wessex wore the Blues Uniform with the rank of Honorary Royal Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry, with the Garter Star and Sash and the Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) star.

He also wore Silver, Gold, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals, the New Zealand Medal and the Canadian Forces Medal.

Prince Edward is the Royal Honorary Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry and The London Guards.

In 2007, the new Duke of Edinburgh became Royal Colonel of 2nd Battalion The Rifles following the reorganisation of the Infantry. He regularly visits the Battalion at their base in Northern Ireland and while on operational duties, including in Afghanistan with the Countess of Wessex in 2009 and, most recently, in Estonia.

In 2006, the new Duke was appointed Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and in 2008, Honorary Air Commodore of Royal Air Force Waddington.

Edward holds three military positions in Canada, as Colonel-in-Chief of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, the Prince Edward Island Regiment and the Saskatchewan Dragoons.

Sophie, the former Countess of Wessex, is now the Duchess of Edinburgh and their 15-year-old son James, Viscount Severn is the new Earl of Wessex.

It comes after another title change this week when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex began officially using the titles Prince and Princess for their children Archie and Lilibet.

The new Duke and Duchess will be in Edinburgh – their first outing with their new titles in the city which inspired their name – later on Friday at a reception to mark the first year of conflict in Ukraine.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "His Majesty The King has been pleased to confer the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon the Prince Edward, on the occasion of HRH's 59th birthday today.

"The title will be held for HRH's lifetime.

"The dukedom was last created for Prince Philip in 1947, upon his marriage to Princess Elizabeth, who held the title of Duchess of Edinburgh before acceding to the throne in 1952.

"The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are proud to continue Prince Philip's legacy of promoting opportunities for young people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential."

The dukedom – which in the past has been hereditary – will not, however, pass down to the Edinburghs' son James when Edward dies.

Viscount Severn will become the Earl of Wessex and Forfar when the title of The Duke of Edinburgh reverts to the Crown, the Palace said.

Edward will also remain for his lifetime the Earl of Forfar, another of his titles, but will use the Duke of Edinburgh because it is the more senior Scottish title.

Philip had always wanted his youngest son Edward to inherit his title, but the decision, ultimately, was down to Charles as King.

The Duke of Edinburgh's role

As well as undertaking official duties in support of His Majesty – often alongside his wife the Duchess of Edinburgh – the Duke will carry out a busy schedule of engagements across the UK and overseas for his charities and patronages.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award has been a focus of the Earl of Wessex's life and work for four decades since achieving his own Gold Award in 1986.

Founded by Prince Philip in 1956, the award helps young people build their confidence and develop key life skills in order to reach their full potential.

According to Royal Household: "Today nearly half a million young people are actively doing their DofE in the UK and the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is operating in more than 130 countries."