Duke of Cornwall

The first dukedom created on mainland Britain was that of Cornwall, created for Edward, the Black Prince, son and heir apparent of King Edward III.

The dukedom is the last still associated in the United Kingdom with an actual duchy, the income of which goes to the Duke.

The Duke of Cornwall is the eldest son of the reigning monarch who is also the heir apparent. This would be the eldest living son if no older brothers left heirs. If no one meets these qualifications, the dukedom is dormant. A son becomes Duke of Cornwall when his parent takes the throne, or, if born to a reigning monarch, at the moment of birth.

This means that one can be the Duke of Cornwall without being the Prince of Wales, since the latter title is conferred explicitly by the monarch, and is often withheld until the age of majority.

It is also possible to be heir apparent without being the Duke of Cornwall (if one is not the child of the reigning monarch.)

Holders of the Dukedom of Cornwall, with the process by which they became dukes of Cornwall:

1. Edward, the "Black Prince", created Duke of Cornwall by Parliament 1336/7
2. Richard of Bordeaux, by charter 1376
3. Henry of Monmouth, by Parliament 1399
4. Henry, son of Henry V, by birth 1421
5. Edward, son of Henry VI, by birth 1453
6. Edward Plantagenet, son of Edward IV, by charter 1470 and by patent 1471
7. Edward Plantagenet, Earl of Salisbury, son of Richard III, by the accession of his father to the throne, 1483
8. Arthur Tudor, son of Henry VII, by birth 1486
9. Henry Tudor, son of Henry VII, by the death of his older brother Arthur, 1502
10. Henry Tudor, son of Henry VIII, by birth 1510
11. a son, possibly named Henry, son of Henry VIII, by birth 1514
12. Edward Tudor, son of Henry VIII, by birth 1537
13. Henry Frederick Stuart, Duke of Rothsay, son of James I, on the accession of his father to the throne 1603.
14. Charles Stuart, Duke of York, son of James I, on the death of his brother 1612
15. Charles James Stuart, son of Charles I, by birth 1629
16. Charles Stuart, son of Charles I, by birth 1630
17. James Francis Edward Stuart, son of James II, at birth 1688
18. HRH George Augustus of Great Britain, son of George I, by the accession of his father to the throne 1714.
19. HRH Frederick Lewis of Great Britain, son of George II, on the accession of his father to the throne 1717.
20. HRH George Augustus Frederick of Great Britain, son of George III, by birth 1762.
21. HRH Albert Edward of the United Kingdom, son of Queen Victoria, by birth 1841.
22. HRH Charles Philip Arthur George of the United Kingdom, son of Queen Elizabeth II, by birth 1952.

Additional details can be found in Cokayne, George Edward, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, A. Sutton, Gloucester, 1982. [orig. 13 volumes, published by The St. Catherine Press Ltd, London, England from 1910-1959; reprinted in microprint: 13 vol. in 6, Gloucester: A. Sutton, 1982 ]