New title for the Earl of Wessex
Published
The Queen has been pleased to grant The Earl of Wessex the additional title of Earl of Forfar.
Notes for Editors:
The Earl of Wessex is Patron of a number of Scottish charitable organisations, such as The Edinburgh International Festival, the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland and Badminton Scotland.
As Trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, HRH has supported the non formal education of thousands of young people in Scotland and holds annual Gold Award presentations at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
In 2014 The Earl was Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, The Queen’s personal representative to the Assembly.
Their Royal Highnesses will use the title The Earl and Countess of Forfar when in Scotland.
The Earldom of Forfar was created in 1661 and became extinct as a title in 1715. It was a subsidiary title to the Earl of Ormond and was a title held by the Douglas Family.
The 1st Earl of Forfar (1653 to 1712) was Archibald Douglas. His son, also Archibald Douglas, became the 2nd Earl of Forfar (1692 to 1715). The 2nd Earl took the title at the age of 20 and died without issue leaving the Earldom, part of the Peerage of Scotland, extinct.
Forfar is the county town of Angus with a population of just over 14,000. It is the principal county town nearest to Glamis Castle, the seat of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne. It was this family of which the late Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was part.
Related content
A message from The King on the 75th Anniversary on the Founding of N.A.T.O.
Message from The King for the 2024 Royal Maundy Service
It is my special prayer today that Our Lord’s example of serving one another might continue to inspire us and to strengthen all our communities.
The Queen's speech at a reception to mark the results of The Queen’s Reading Room study
We share a very special bond, ladies and gentlemen – our love of books. Thank you for helping to spread the word.
Message from The King to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War
It is our duty to remember what was once called “the Forgotten War”.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex
A speech by Her Majesty The Queen at a reception to celebrate International Women’s Day and to mark the end of the WOW Girls Festival Bus tour
Let your lives be the stones that will shatter glass ceilings everywhere and inspire generations to come.
The King's Commonwealth Day Message 2024
The Commonwealth family is strongest when we are connected, through friendship.
A speech by The Duchess of Edinburgh at the Community Sport and Recreation Awards, at Headingley Stadium, Leeds, ahead of The Duke of Edinburgh’s 60th birthday.
He is the best of fathers, the most loving of husbands and still is my best friend.
A speech by Her Majesty The Queen at the Grand Final of BBC's 500 Words, Buckingham Palace
Between you, you have created more than a million stories of thought-provoking adventure for future generations to study and enjoy. Thank you to everybody who has taken part...
A message of condolence from The King to the President of Tanzania following the passing of former Tanzanian President, Ali Hassan Mwinyi
My thoughts and prayers are with former President Mwinyi’s family and the Tanzanian people at this time.
A speech by The Duchess of Edinburgh, via video message, at the Restoration of the Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Survivors’ Rights Conference, Ukraine
We must stand shoulder to shoulder with all survivors to secure justice and holistic redress, and ensure that this crime isn’t an accepted part of conflict.
Charities and Patronages
The King's message marking two years of conflict in Ukraine
My heart goes out to all those affected, as I remember them in my thoughts and prayers.