Earl of Inverness

The title of Earl of Inverness (Scottish Gaelic: Iarla Inbhir Nis) is a title of nobility in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was first created in 1718 in the Jacobite Peerage of Scotland, together with the titles Viscount of Innerpaphrie and Lord Cromlix and Erne, by James Francis Edward Stuart ("James III & VIII") for the Honourable John Hay of Cromlix, third son of the 7th Earl of Kinnoull. He was created Duke of Inverness in 1727, but both titles became extinct upon the death of the grantee in 1740.

It has been created several times in of the Peerage of the United Kingdom, each time as a subsidiary title for a member of the royal family. It was created first in 1801 as a subsidiary title of Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex, sixth son of George III, becoming extinct in 1843. Sussex's second wife (whom he married in contravention of the Royal Marriages Act 1772 making the marriage legally void) was given the title of Duchess of Inverness in her own right, which became extinct upon her death in 1873.

The next creation was for Prince George (later George V), second son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) and grandson of Queen Victoria, as a subsidiary title along with the Dukedom of York. As the Prince became King in 1910, succeeding his father, his titles merged in the crown.

The title was created again in 1920 as a subsidiary title of the Prince Albert (second son of George V), who was also created Duke of York at the same time. The title merged in the crown when Albert succeeded his brother in 1936 to become King George VI.

The title was created a fourth time in 1986 as a subsidiary title for Queen Elizabeth II's second son, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, along with the title of Baron Killyleagh.

In 2019, some residents of Inverness started a campaign to strip him of that title, stating that "it is inappropriate that Prince Andrew is associated with our beautiful city." due to the prince's infamous friendship with disgraced financier and child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. In 2022, there was a renewed petition to strip him of the title.

Earls of Inverness, first Creation (1801)
House of Hanover 1801–1843  also: Duke of Sussex and Baron Arklow (1801)  Buckingham House, London son of King George III and Queen Charlotte Lady Augusta Murray 2 children
 * Prince Augustus Frederick
 * Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex by Guy Head.jpg
 * 27 January 1773
 * 4 April 1793

2 May 1831 Lady Cecilia Underwood No children Kensington Palace, London aged 70
 * 21 April 1843
 * colspan=5|Prince Augustus' marriage to Lady Augusta Murray, which produced two children, was invalid under the Royal Marriages Act 1772; accordingly all his titles became extinct on his death.
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Earls of Inverness, second Creation (1892)
House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha 1892–1910 ''also: Duke of York and Baron Killarney (1892); Prince of Wales (1901), Duke of Cornwall (1337) and Duke of Rothesay (1398)'' Marlborough House son of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra 6 July 1893 6 children Sandringham House, Sandringham aged 70
 * Prince George
 * George V of the United Kingdom01.jpg
 * 3 June 1865
 * Mary of Teck
 * 20 January 1936
 * colspan=5|Prince George succeeded as King George V in 1910 upon his father's death, and his titles merged with the crown.
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Earls of Inverness, third Creation (1920)
House of Windsor 1920–1936  also: Duke of York and Baron Killarney (1920)  Sandringham House, Sandringham son of King George V and Queen Mary 26 April 1923 2 children Sandringham House, Sandringham aged 56
 * Prince Albert
 * King George VI - NARA - 5730844.jpg
 * 14 December 1895
 * Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
 * 6 February 1952
 * colspan=5|Prince Albert succeeded as King George VI in 1936 upon his brother's abdication, and his titles merged with the crown.
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Earls of Inverness, fourth Creation (1986)
House of Windsor 1986–present  also: Duke of York and Baron Killyleagh (1986)  Buckingham Palace son of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 23 July 1986 – 30 May 1996 (divorce) 2 children now 64 years, 146 days old
 * Prince Andrew
 * Duke of York 2022 (cropped).jpg
 * 19 February 1960
 * Sarah Ferguson
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