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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 1999-01 > 0915315780


From: Kay Robinson< >
Subject: Re: Duchy of Lancaster [was Re: Humphrey de Bohun VI]
Date: Sat, 02 Jan 1999 22:23:00 GMT


On 2 Jan 1999 13:45:16 GMT and using an environmentally safe writing
implement carefully wrote:

>Kay Robinson wrote:

>> AFAIK the first born child is the Duke of Lancaster, Charles being
>> that at present as well as Duke of Cornwall, Earl of Chester and PoW.

>That appears not to be the case. See WAR's post on the subject. The heir apparent is
>automatically Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester at the instant of his birth or
>parent's accession, but must be created Prince of Wales. Thus Charles became Duke of
>Cornwall in 1952, but PoW only in 1958.

>> This has been tradition since the Wars of the Roses ended and the
>> Lancastrian's came to power, the Duchy of York being given to the
>> second son. A permanent reminder that the House of York comes second
>> to the House of Lancaster.

>There is nothing special about the Dukedom (not duchy--again see WAR's post) of York.
>It has traditionally been given to the second son, but that has been possible in
>recent centuries only because the title has gone extinct (George II's and George
>III's second sons, for instance, had no heirs) or has merged with the Crown (George V
>and George VI were both second sons and Dukes of York). But Queen Victoria's second
>son, Prince Alfred, was created Duke of Edinburgh, not York. There is no heir to the
>title of the current Duke of York, as the present holder has two daughters but no
>sons. Of course he is still young and may marry again. (In that case, there would be
>two Duchesses of York, as "Fergie" retained that title after her divorce. I look
>forward to seeing what fiddle is devised to get around that socially treacherous
>situation.)

>John Steele Gordon

Thanks for the more detailed info John. I did read WAR's post and note
that Lancaster is a Duchy apparently without a Duke. I should add
though, that several years ago it became necessary for a colleague of
mine to have dealings with the Duchy of Lancaster involving estate
property and documents received showed Prince Charles as the 'holder'
of the Duchy and its revenues.

As to the Fergie problem, I thought that she is now Sarah Ferguson,
Duchess of York as opposed to the correct title The Duchess of York. A
subtle difference which is usually applied to differentiate between
purchased 'titles' and peerages.

Of course I may just be rambling again, I'm doing a lot of that lately
(and its *not* the drink <g>)

Kay

--------------------------------------------
A good end cannot sanctify evil, nor must
we ever do evil that good may come of it.
Force may subdue, but Love gains, and he
that forgives first wins the laurel.

William Penn 1644-1718
-----------------------------------------
Kay Robinson <>
Give all you can, Take only what you need

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