Title of Earl of Wessex & Edward/Sophie Wessex
Michelle.Mu...@ccmail.team400.ie
received the weekend's mail from Gen-Medieval yet, and I'm curious about the
title of Earl of Wessex. So if no one has answered this already...
First of all, WHY do you think the Queen and Prime Minister chose to bestow the
title of Earl of Wessex on Edward? The title hasn't been used since before the
Norman Conquest. Do you think its ancient Saxon significance might have
suggested a nice nationalist patriotic flavour? Or, as some have suggested, was
she trying to find a title which did not refer to any real modern area of land,
so that no one could suggest Edward had any political influence over that area?
(as opposed to Cornwall, York, Wales etc)?
Secondly, WHY do you think that Edward did not receive a Dukedom? He is the
first son of a reigning monarch since George I not to be given a royal Dukedom,
and to some people this seems like a snub. I would like to think that the Queen
would not so insult her son without discussing the matter with him first. The
inheritance of the title of Duke of Edinburgh seems like a strange compromise,
although perhaps the Queen wants to "glorify" Prince Philip by making his title
an inherited one, something that he can pass to one of his sons, thus not making
him feel totally defunct, since everyone else in the family derives everything
they have from their mother.
As I said, I'm curious, and I felt let-down to realise that Edward and Sophie
are only plain old Earl and Countess of Wessex, rather than the royal Duke and
Duchess I feel they should have been.
regards,
Michelle Murphy
Eddie Bennett
> <wacking great snip>>
>
> As I said, I'm curious, and I felt let-down to realise that Edward and Sophie
> are only plain old Earl and Countess of Wessex, rather than the royal Duke and
> Duchess I feel they should have been.
>
> Well, if dukedoms confered by the monarch on their sons are 'royal' then so are
> earldoms. Their ain't much to choose between dukes and earls these days and it
> seem to fit into a curren trend (don't ask me who is responsible for setting this
> trend or just how many peolple buy into it) not to elevate people too high up. I
> suspect what has happened will fit in with Edward & Sophie's wishes, including the
> idea of more to come, with Edward eventually becoming Duke of Edinburgh. He has
> been involved with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme.
Eddie Bennett
Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK
Researching BENNETT & FINCH in Middlesex/London (Chelsea & Bethnal Green), DETTMAR &
THOMAS in East London, VAUGHAN in South Wales & USA, HIGHMORE in Cumberland, Dorset,
Somerset & anywhere.
D. Spencer Hines
D. Spencer Hines
Lux et Veritas
--
D. Spencer Hines --- "Genealogy is an infinite binary series --- both
regressively and progressively --- propagated by means of a
terminal --- sexually transmitted disease --- producing a 100% death
rate, which we call Life." [DSH] --- 4 June 1997
<Michelle.Murphy%EIH...@ccmail.team400.ie> wrote in message
news:01JCNQ7FZ...@kira.team400.ie...
> As I said, I'm curious, and I felt let-down to realise that Edward
and Sophie
> are only plain old Earl and Countess of Wessex, rather than the
royal Duke and
> Duchess I feel they should have been.
>
> regards,
>
> Michelle Murphy
>
I really think you should take this up with Her Majesty, The Queen.
After you get through to her, which may take a while --- they screen
out loonies --- just tell her you are a loyal Irish subject and think
she has done the Wrong Thing.
I'm sure she'll give you just what you deserve.
My previous diagnosis of Congenital Airheadedeness as Murphy's
fundamental problem seems to have remarkable staying power ---
although I may have erred on the side of the lesser malady.
D. Spencer Hines
Lux et Veritas