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
Alan, Earl of Menteith 1st Baron Hastings . He was captured at the Battle of Methven, and given to Hastings' disposal. Menteith was committed to Abergavenny Castle; he died a prisoner before 13 March 1308/09, when John de Hastings had licence "to demise to Margery, late the wife of Alan, earl of Menteth, for her life, the manor of Wotton..." Menteith was succeeded in his Earldom by his son Alan II, Earl of Menteith, who was then a minor. Alan, Earl of Menteith married Marjory or Margery, who has been shown to have been a daughter of Colbán, Earl of Fife by his wife