The decision to pass the title on to Prince Edward was made by the Queen, her late husband Philip, and their son Charles back in 1999, when Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones. In an announcement made via Buckingham Palace, the couple was also granted the titles of Earl and Countess of Wessex, and at the same time it was revealed that Edward would eventually become the next Duke of Edinburgh when Charles becomes king, not before that reports Daily Mail. The title was also in recognition of Edward's work with the youth award program called the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, reports the outlet, adding that he's also a trustee of the same.