Charles 'saving' special title for Charlotte: 'Fitting way to remember'

King Charles is reportedly saving a special title for his granddaughter Princess Charlotte as a tribute to her great-grandmother the Queen. Charles is rumoured to be honouring Charlotte with the Duchess of Edinburgh title in a "fitting" tribute to the Queen, Mail Online reports.

The late Prince Philip had reportedly planned for his youngest son Prince Edward to inherit the Duke of Edinburgh title. The expectation it would be passed down after the Duke's death was even written on the royal family's official website. Charles, however, reportedly wants to keep the title in the direct line of succession and has yet to hand the title to his younger brother. Charlotte is third in line to the throne.

"Charlotte’s position is historically significant because she is the first female member of the Royal Family whose place in the line of succession will not be surpassed by her younger brother," a source told the publication.

"So it is constitutionally significant that Charlotte should be given such a corresponding title, because it is not beyond the realms of possibility that she will accede the throne if, for example, Prince George does not have children."

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The Duchess of Edinburgh title was previously held by the late Queen, and passing it down to Charlotte would be a special way to honour her, the source adds.

"It would be a fitting way to remember the Queen – who, of course, had the title Duchess of Edinburgh – and a way for His Majesty to honour the line of succession," the insider continued.

The Queen and Prince Philip, had previously promised Edward that he would receive the title after his father's death when he married Sophie Wessex in 1999.

"The King wants to slim down the monarchy, as is well known," a source told Daily Mail. "That means it wouldn't make sense to make the Earl the Duke of Edinburgh. It's a hereditary title which would then be passed on to the Earl and Countess of Wessex's son, James, Viscount Severn.

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"Essentially, this was accepted by the Earl when he agreed that his children would not be a prince or princess."

It comes as Charles has promised to "slim-down" the monarchy and has not confirmed whether or not Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's children Archie, three and Lilibet, one, will receive royal titles, which they are now eligible for following the Queen's death.

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