Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh
The Queen's youngest son who carved a distinct path by championing the performing arts and mentoring young people through the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
Born 1964 (age 62)·British prince·Birthday: March 10·Baby Boomers
Biography
Prince Edward has spent his life navigating the unique expectations of a modern royal, ultimately forging a role that plays to his own interests and temperament. As the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II, his early career attempts in the Royal Marines and then in theatre production were scrutinized, but they revealed a person drawn to the creative rather than the ceremonial. Through his production company, he initially aimed to document the monarchy's work, though this venture caused some friction. He found his true calling in patronage and presidency of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, a youth program founded by his father. With a quieter, more informal style than his siblings, Edward, now the Duke of Edinburgh, has dedicated himself to expanding this global initiative, focusing on empowering the next generation—a legacy that connects him directly to his parents' lifelong service.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Prince was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Prince Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Prince's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Succeeded his father as the patron of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award International Foundation in 2022.
- Founded the production company Ardent, which produced documentaries and dramas in the 1990s.
- Served as a full-time working member of the royal family, undertaking hundreds of engagements annually.
Did You Know?
He is the first son of a monarch to not be created a duke immediately upon marriage; he was styled as Earl of Wessex for over two decades.
He met his wife, Sophie, while working for a theatre production company.
He competed in the 1986 edition of the BBC's 'It's a Knockout' charity event, which was widely criticized.
“We must support the King and carry out our duties with diligence.”
