Earl of Wessex rather than a duke. His wife Sophie became "The Countess of Wessex". "The Sunday Telegraph" newspaper reported that he was drawn to the historic title of Earl of Wessex after watching the 1998 film "Shakespeare in Love", in which a character with the title 'Lord Wessex' is played by Colin Firth. The current Earl of Wessex is also Viscount Severn. This subsidiary title is used as a courtesy title by the Earl's son and heir to his title, who was born on 17 December 2007. Earl of Wessex Earl of Wessex is a title that has been created three times
Gerald FitzGerald, 5th Earl of Kildare him the title should have passed to his brother John, de jure 6th Earl, although his son-in-law, the Earl of Ormonde, also claimed the title in right of his wife, Elizabeth. The dispute was finlly resolved in favour of John's son Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Kildare. Gerald FitzGerald, 5th Earl of Kildare Gerald FitzMaurice FitzGerald, 5th Earl of Kildare (d. before 24 June 1428) was an Irish peer. Kildare was the son of Maurice FitzGerald, 4th Earl of Kildare and Elizabeth Burghersh. Kildare served as Justiciar of Ireland in 1405. In 1407 he defeated the O'Carrol clan at Kilkenny.