A special celebration is to be held in Angus in the summer to mark Prince Edward being bestowed the title Earl of Forfar.
The announcement was made yesterday that The Queen had recognised Prince Edward’s birthday by granting him the historic title which he will use in Scotland.
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.
The new title was announced as the prince celebrated his 55th birthday.
Local civic heads welcomed the announcement, stating it would put Forfar, and Angus as a whole, on the map.
Mrs Georgiana Osborne, Lord Lieutenant of Angus, said it was a great honour.
She said: “I am absolutely delighted the Queen has bestowed this very old Scottish title on Prince Edward on his birthday.
Queen grants Prince Edward title of Earl of Forfar to mark 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 was 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 Ronnie Proctor welcomed the news stating: “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 the Earl’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth 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.”
Forfar councillor Colin Brown, depute provost of Angus, also welcomed the news.
He said: “I think it is absolutely fantastic The Queen has seen to honour Forfar in this way.
“It will certainly put Forfar on the lips of the whole of the country.
“The Earl and Countess can be assured of a warm Forfar welcome when they visit.
“I met the Earl when he visited the Brechin Community Campus in 2017, he was a lovely man with no airs and graces, he put everybody at ease.
“He will be a good ambassador for Forfar and Angus.”
Forfar Community Council members added the position would raise the profile of the town.
The Earldom of Forfar was created in 1661 and became extinct as a title in 1715 when the second Earl died leaving no children.
Archibald Douglas, the first Earl of Forfar, was a Scottish peer.
He was the second son and youngest child of Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus and 1st Earl of Ormond, by his second wife, Jean Wemyss.
The second Earl of Forfar was also called Archibald Douglas, the only son of the first Earl.
He died on December 8 1715 at the Battle of Sheriffmuir aged 23.
Prince Edward is patron of a number of Scottish charitable organisations, such as The Edinburgh International Festival, the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland and Badminton Scotland.
As trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh Award he has supported the non-formal education of thousands of young people in Scotland and holds annual Gold Award presentations at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
In 2014 The Earl was Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Queen’s personal representative to the assembly.
The title of Earl of Forfar bestowed upon Prince Edward strengthens the Royal family’s links with the area.
His grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, spent her childhood years at Glamis Castle, the ancestral home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne.
The castle was also the birthplace of Princess Margaret.
The Royal family have also enjoyed private visits to Cortachy Castle, home of the Earl and Countess of Airlie, which sits at the foot of the Angus glens.
Members of the Royal family have made numerous visits to Angus over the years, with the Earl of Wessex visiting Montrose and Brechin in June 2017.
He is the youngest of the Queen and Prince Philip’s four children and their third son.
