R18 - Actually, Princes of Wales comes with a royal dukedom: he inherits the Duchy of Cornwall and becomes, ipso facto, Duke of Cornwall. Then he gets another Scottish dukedom (Charles is Duke of Cornwall AND Duke of Rothesay). William is Prince William AND Duke of Cambridge.
Charlotte will remain Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Louis will get a royal dukedom, York if Andrew dies before Louis marries, something else if Andrew is still alive.
The problem is the children of Louis and Charlotte. Charlotte, if she marries a commoner, even an aristo, will not be HRHs unless William issues LPs to make them such. As you all know, I intend Charlotte to marry Prince Christian, next heir to the throne of Denmark, and to really stick it to everyone (just think of THAT royal wedding!).
No one has heard William talking about slimming down the monarchy, only about Charles wanting to, and not once has Charles uttered a word publicly about this.
Frankly, it would be supremely hypocritical for Charles to want the monarchy slimmed down if that is what he really wants, but to allow Harry's kids, being raised as Americans by disgraced parents who are intensely disliked in Britain. to have their HRHs.
One royal dukedom more or less isn't the issue, really. It's how many working royals on are on the Sovereign Grant and supporting royal and other patronages.
No one cares about the Earl of St. Andrews inheriting his father's title of Duke of Kent one day. In another generation or two, it will become an ordinary (Your Grace) rather than royal (Your Royal Highness) title, anyway.
No one would care if the Wessexes get the DoE title, either, as they've been working steadily for the monarchy for the last 20 years and have at least another ten years ahead of them as the Cambridge kids grow up.
If Charles really doesn't want Edward to have that title, it's for other reasons. They're already part of the working monarchy, how would giving Edward the title change anything? So what if Edward's son inherits it one day?
So either it's another bullshit story and the title really is going to Edward, or Charles is being a piss-pot.
No wonder the Queen refuses to die. She's trying to keep the throne out of her her older son's hands as long as possible, to make sure his reign is as short as possible, and the Cambridges can step up as soon as possible.