Duchess Sophie is celebrating her 60th birthday today, with the royal set to mark the occasion by spending time at the family’s Bagshot home with her nearest and dearest.

The Duchess of Edinburgh, 60, has been a well-loved member of the Royal Family since her marriage to Prince Edward in 1999, with multiple sources claiming the duchess was one of the late Queen’s favourite companions.

However, while Sophie has held a number of titles during her time as a member of the Royal Family, there is one she missed out on as a result of her husband’s actions.

A courtier alleged to The Telegraph that Prince Edward was once going to be the Duke of Cambridge, a decision made by the late Queen, but he watched the film Shakespeare in Love, which had a character called the Earl of Wessex.

The courtier said: “He liked the sound of it and asked the Queen if he could have that instead.”

This meant that instead of him and wife Sophie becoming the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, a title later bestowed on Prince William and Princess Kate, they were the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

They were known as this for 24 years before King Charles made the couple the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh on Edward’s 59th birthday in 2023.

The Duke of Edinburgh title had previously been held by the King and Prince Edward’s father Prince Philip for more than 70 years.

While Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie are senior working royals, their two children Louise and James are unlikely to do the same, and currently do not use HRH titles.

Sophie once revealed in an interview with The Times: ”We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living. Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles.

“They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but I think it’s highly unlikely.”