The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may have "forced the hand" of King Charles into giving Prince Edward and wife Sophie new titles, a commentator has said.
Earlier this month, Harry and Meghan shared that their children are now known as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, reports the Mirror. This news came after a statement was released by the couple confirming that Lilibet had been christened.
Days after this, it was announced that Prince Edward had been granted the official title of the Duke of Edinburgh - following his late father, Prince Phillip. This made wife Sophie the Duchess of Edinburgh.
READ MORE - Owner says loved Edinburgh boxing club 'at risk of closure' as numbers dwindle
The announcement was shared by Buckingham Palace and revealed that Charles was "pleased" to give the title to his younger brother. This is despite reports stating that he had been reluctant to pass on the title promised to Edward by the late Queen and Prince Philip.
Royal commentator Richard Eden has now claimed that there had been a lot of "toing and froing" over the Dukedom of Edinburgh title.
Speaking on the Mail+ Palace Confidential programme, Richard claimed: "But then, when Harry and Meghan started using the Prince and Princess titles for their children, it became clear this wasn’t going to happen and then King Charles could hardly justify not giving Prince Edward the title he’d been promised by their parents.
"It was a big deal and I really think that was behind it."
The granting of the title to Edward means that Sophie is now the Duchess of Edinburgh - and there is also a change for their 15-year-old son James.
James is now the Earl of Wessex - a title that Edward was granted on his wedding day - but there is no change for Lady Louise Windsor, the couple's daughter.
It has long been known that Edward would one day become the Duke of Edinburgh after a pledge made by the late Queen on his wedding day in June 1999.
People were skeptical at the time that Edward was given an Earldom and not a Dukedom - but it was announced at the time of the nuptials that Edward would succeed his father as the Duke of Edinburgh with the blessing of his parents after his death.
The palace said at the time: "The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince of Wales have also agreed that the Prince Edward should be given the dukedom of Edinburgh in due course when the present title now held by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown."
Philip’s desire for Edward to have the title was in recognition of his son’s decades-long commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award - the youth scheme which is one of Philip’s greatest legacies.
READ NEXT:
Former Edinburgh church converted into beautiful five-bed townhouse up for sale
Man asks AI robot to 'make as much money as possible' and it goes very well
Woman hits out at neighbour for staining her fence 'without permission'
Prince Harry likely to return for Coronation 'without Meghan' claims royal butler
Parents in UK's biggest family will 'take break' from filming as they issue statement
