Royal Dukedoms

No legislation exists for the creation of royal peerages (usually dukedoms) by the British sovereign, who is the fountain of all honours.

It is largely traditional for the sovereign to create dukedoms for younger sons and grandsons (in the male line). Queen Elizabeth II created her second son as Duke of York on the morning of his marriage in July 1986. Thirteen years later, Prince Edward received an earldom on the day he was married.

The decision to create the peerage is the decision of the sovereign, and no one else.

Queen Elizabeth's father, Prince Albert, then second in line to the throne, received the titles Duke of York, Earl of Inverness & Baron Killarney, in the King's Birthday Honours list in Jun 1920.

Eight years later, King George V created his third son, Prince Henry, as Duke of Gloucester, Earl of Ulster, Baron Culloden, on March 30, 1928, which was the Prince's 28th birthday.

George V's youngest surviving son, Prince George, did not receive his dukedom (Kent) until October 9, 1934, approximately six weeks before his marriage to Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark.

Queen Victoria bestowed royal dukedoms on her three younger sons and two of her grandsons. (Her eldest son became Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay at the moment of his birth.)

Prince Alfred was created Duke of Edinburgh shortly before his mother's birthday in 1866. He took his seat in Parliament on her birthday in that year.
In 1874, on her birthday (May 24), Victoria created Prince Arthur as Duke of Connaught and Strathearn and Earl of Sussex.

On the occasion of her birthday in 1881, Victoria created her youngest son, Prince Leopold, as Duke of Albany. Earl of Clarence, and Baron Arklow.

Prince Albert Victor of Wales, the eldest son of the Prince of Wales (Edward VII) was created Duke of Clarence & Avondale and Earl of Athlone, on May 24, 1890.

Prince George of Wales, who became second in line to the throne, following the death of his brother, the Duke of Clarence, was created Duke of York, Earl of Inverness & Baron Killarney on May 24, 1892.

Thus, Queen Victoria used the occasion of her birthday Honours List to create dukedoms for her sons and grandsons.

George III did not follow a set pattern when he created dukedoms for his younger sons.