Who succeeds as Duke of Edinburgh

Embed from Getty Images

 

and it is not the HRH The Earl of Wessex.  This is made clear in King George VI's Letters Patent.  The peerage was created for Philip and "the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten."

The Prince of Wales has succeeded his father as the Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich.  The Heir Apparent to this dukedom is HRH The Duke of Cambridge.  The succession for the dukedom is as follows: HRH The Duke of Cambridge, HRH Prince George of Cambridge, HRH Prince Louis of Cambridge, HRH The Duke of Sussex,  Archie Mountbatten-Windsor,  HRH The Duke of York, HRH The Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn.

Here is the announcement about Edward's titles.  Please note the use of the word given and "eventually reverts to the Crown." Philip's titles have not reverted to the Crown because he has male heirs.  The peerages will revert to the Crown when Charles becomes King.   Once Charles is king, he will create a new dukedom of Edinburgh for his youngest brother.

The Palace has reiterated this statement on numerous occasions since June 1999.  

Today, the College of Arms statement on the death of the Duke of Edinburgh included this paragraph:

"The Titles of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

The Duke of Edinburgh was granted the style and title of Royal Highness on 19 November 1947; on the next day, 20 November, he was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich, of Greenwich in the County of London. These peerages are hereditary and on the death of His Royal Highness have passed to his eldest son, HRH The Prince of Wales. In the event of the Prince of Wales or any subsequent holder of these titles succeeding to the Crown, these titles and all others held will merge with the Crown."

 I highlighted the most important sentence.