Prince Henry/Prince Harry of Wales

[RoyalWatcher]

Does anyone else think that maybe the Queen will grant Harry a dukedom of his own when he turns 30 this month? I'm thinking it is a strong possibility.

I'm curious, what makes you think Harry would get a dukedom?  During Victoria's time and before, it was common for princes to be given dukedoms before marriage.  But aside from the exceptions of the Duke of Windsor at his abdication, and Charles automatically being a duke on his mother's succession, the last time a royal prince was created as a peer aside from at his marriage was in June 1920 when the Queen's father was created Duke of York (incidentally this was not his birthday but when he was age 25 1/2).  The Queen's younger sons and Prince William were not given titles until marriage.

I suppose I was thinking that a royal dukedom would maybe help ground him; help him transition from a playful prince to a more serious one. Don't get me wrong, I love his playful side and I hope he never loses that.  It was just a gut feeling I had, but since his birthday has come and gone, I was apparently very wrong.   

[TimM]

I sometimes forget his real name is Henry.  Everyone has called him Harry since he was a baby.

[Kalafrana]

The Prince of Wales once said that he is only called Henry when in disgrace.

However, he is 'Prince Henry of Wales' in the Court Circular.

Ann

[TimM]

The Prince of Wales once said that he is only called Henry when in disgrace.

Like a parent calling a child by their full name when said child is in trouble.  LOL!

[rachel5a]

In Harry/Henry case that's quite often

[OctoberLily]

But that's been less often these days.  It seems to me that Prince Harry is maturing quite nicely.  His trek across the Antarctic with the Walking With the Wounded and his involvement with the Invictus Games are just a couple of examples.  I've come to admire his work with and for wounded soldiers, his sincerity and passion come through in spades.  And I love seeing him with children...he's a natural.  And he's still having fun.   

[Kalafrana]

I agree with October Lily that Prince Harry is maturing nicely. The business in Las Vegas was idiotic, but his charitable work is great, and I have the impression that he is a good soldier too.

Ann

[TimM]

Yeah, I agree.  He's grown up nicely.  Hard to believe he's 30 now.

[CHRISinUSA]

Does anyone else think that maybe the Queen will grant Harry a dukedom of his own when he turns 30 this month? I'm thinking it is a strong possibility.

I'm curious, what makes you think Harry would get a dukedom? 

I suppose I was thinking that a royal dukedom would maybe help ground him; help him transition from a playful prince to a more serious one. Don't get me wrong, I love his playful side and I hope he never loses that.  It was just a gut feeling I had, but since his birthday has come and gone, I was apparently very wrong.   

Interesting, I had almost the opposite feeling, that the Queen would be disinclined to grant him a peerage until he had proven himself mature enough to hold the honor.  In any event, given the precedent Her Majesty has followed throughout her reign I suspect we will have to wait for Harry's marriage to see him wearing a ducal coronet.

[OctoberLily]

I tend to agree with Chris.  And isn't that the traditional way?

[IvanVII]

It would not surprise me that if he marries before his father becomes king he is created an Earl, as there is always the potential that the Duke of York title could become his.

[Kalafrana]

It looks as though he will in due course become Duke of York, as the current Duke only has daughters and looks unlikely to have more children. Interestingly, the last Duke of York who passed the title to a son by inheritance was Richard, father of Edward IV. Every Duke of York since has either succeeded to the throne or died without a son.

Ann

[TimM]

It looks as though he will in due course become Duke of York

Yeah, the Duke of York is always he younger brother of the reigning King, right?

[Kalafrana]

Usually. The exception was George V, who was Duke of York as younger son of the Prince of Wales. The title is normally given to the monarch's second son, but Queen Victoria created her second son Duke of Edinburgh.

Ann

[TimM]

Ah, so there are exceptions, it seems.