Birthday honour as Earl of Forfar title bestowed on prince

Queen gives son historic title on his 55th birthday

As birthday presents from one’s mummy goes, it beats a fiver tucked inside a card.

Prince Edward has been given the title Earl of Forfar to celebrate his 55th birthday. A special celebration will be held in Angus in the summer to mark the title’s bestowal.

The announcement was made yesterday that the Earl of Wessex and his wife Sophie will be known as the Earl and Countess of Forfar when they are north of the border.

Local civic heads welcomed the move, stating it would put Forfar, and Angus as a whole, on the map.

Mrs Georgiana Osborne, Lord Lieutenant of Angus, said: “I am absolutely delighted the Queen has bestowed this very old Scottish title on Prince Edward on his birthday.

“I really look forward to welcoming the earl and countess who are coming to Forfar this summer at some stage to celebrate their new title.

“I look forward to planning a fun day for them.”

Mrs Osborne said Prince Edward had been a very popular visitor to Angus over the years, most recently in 2017 when he attended the 40th anniversary of the William Lamb Studio in Montrose, followed by a visit to Brechin Community Campus for a Duke of Edinburgh Award event.

She added: “This is great for Forfar and definitely puts us on the map.”

Angus Provost Major Ronnie Proctor said: “It’s absolutely brilliant for the area, great for Forfar and for the county of Angus, which was formerly Forfarshire.

“Hopefully this will bring a lot of interest to the town and county.”

Mr Proctor, a retired major with The Black Watch, added he was sure that the earl’s grandmother, the Queen Mother, Colonel in Chief of The Black Watch from 1936 until she died in 2002, would have been proud of the appointment.

He added: “We are very fortunate we can keep all these traditions in Angus whilst looking to promote the future.”

Deputy provost Colin Brown also welcomed the news.

He said: “I think it is absolutely fantastic the Queen has seen fit to honour Forfar in this way.

“The earl and countess can be assured of a warm Forfar welcome when they visit.”

Picture: Getty. Sophie and Edward will be known as the Earl and Countess of Forfar when in Scotland.

Picture: Kris Miller. Georgiana Osborne, Lord Lieutenant of Angus, said Prince Edward had been a popular visitor to Angus.