Why the word EARL itself had been associated with Prince Edward since his birth?

Question

It was only after his marriage to Sophie Rhys-Jones that Prince Edward received the title ‘The Earl of Wessex”. However, the word EARL itself had been associated with the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II since his birth. Why?

Answer 1

It hasn't. He only became Earl of Wessex on his marriage, before that he was just known as HRH The Prince Edward.

The Earldom of Wessex was re-created for him, there hadn't been an Earl of Wessex since 1066 when Harold, Earl of Wessex became King of England (for a few months until he was killed in the Battle of Hastings).

Answer 2

Why do you think it was associated with him before 1999? It wasn't. When he was younger there was probably an assumption that he would become a duke, like most sons of a sovereign. By 1999, though, he was seventh in line to the throne and it was the year most hereditary peers were expelled from parliament. It was decided then that an earldom was more suitable.

Answer 3

The Prince Edward was only styled with "His Royal Highness" at the time of his birth. On his wedding day, the Queen conferred the titles of Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn on Prince Edward. This was a break with tradition, whereby the sons of a sovereign were usually created a Duke, but the Earldom of Wessex has a distinguished Royal lineage, the Kingdom of Wessex having played the leading role in the unification of Anglo-Saxon England. The last person known as "Earl of Wessex" was Harold Godwinson, prior to his accession to the English throne as King Harold II in 1066. Edward is styled HRH The Earl of Wessex, with Sophie taking the style HRH The Countess of Wessex.

Note: When the Earldom was created, the Palace announced that the Earl of Wessex would be created Duke of Edinburgh after the death of his father, HRH The Prince Phillip, and his mother, HM Queen Elizabeth II, when that title merges with the Crown.