I guess this must be the first time ever that a royal dukedom has been conferred for lifetime only.
The present monarch doesn't seem to be worried that his father's title will cease to be held by any of his father's descendants after his brother dies!
It isn’t the first life dukedom and the dukedom itself isn’t explicitly royal, but in consideration of its royal associations and the fact also that it bears the name of the capital of one of the home nations of the United Kingdom, this is a perfectly elegant solution to keep it close to the Royal Family.
In a scenario where James, Earl of Wessex were to use his princely title and become a working member of the Royal Family, he could also be made Duke of Edinburgh after his father’s lifetime. Otherwise, there is now no worry about some distant descendant encumbered by royal associations and an expectation that he might have to maintain an appreciably ducal lifestyle.
It seems entirely sensible to me!
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