The British Royal Family is going through a historical change. After the demise of Queen Elizabeth II on September 08, 2022, the top 4 senior members of the Royal Family saw huge changes in their lives on both the personal and royal fronts. The biggest ceremonial Royal change in Charles, Camilla, William and Catherine’s lives is the change in their Royal Title.
With the passing of The Queen, the 73-years old Charles has become King Charles III. His wife Camilla, who was The Princess of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, and Rothsay is now The Queen Consort. The King and Queen Consort also hold the title of Duke and Duchess of Lancaster – an extinct peerage that was merged into the Crown by King Henry V but the Monarch retains the Duchy of Lancaster, an estate held separately from the Crown Estate for the benefit of the sovereign.
Prince William is now officially ‘The Prince William’. With his father’s accession to the throne, William has become the heir apparent to the throne, and with that comes the automatic title of The Duke of Cornwall and The Duke of Rothsay. So William and Catherine’s new official title as of today is The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, Rothsay, and Cambridge.
But what about the most fascinating title of the British Monarchy – The Prince and Princess of Wales? Well, the title of Prince of Wales is not automatic. The Monarch invests his/her oldest son who is also the heir apparent to the British throne as The Prince of Wales. The Prince of Wales title goes back to the 12th Century and the feminine version to the 13th century.
The last title holder Prince Charles was invested as The Prince of Wales in July 1969 by his mother Queen Elizabeth the second. No woman has ever held the title of Princess of Wales on her own due to the succession rights and also to the fact that it will make the Princess’ husband Prince of Wales – a title that belongs to the heir apparent.
Kensington Palace has confirmed that until King Charles III bestows the title of Prince and Princess of Wales upon William and Catherine, The Royal couple will continue to be known as The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge.
Their three children also have new titles – Prince George of Cornwall and Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cornwall and Cambridge, and Prince Louis of Cornwall and Cambridge. When William and Catherine become Prince and Princess of Wales – the new title will trump their all current titles and their children will become Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, and Prince Louis of Wales. So Cambridges will be known as Wales Family then.
I do not see any reason why this will not happen. It’s only a matter of when. How soon we will receive the official declaration of the new Prince and Princess of Wales depends upon how big or small the new King’s coronation ceremony is. I believe King Charles III will make the formal announcement sometime before the year ends but the formal investiture ceremony might take place sometime next year. But whenever it happens Prince William will be the 23rd Prince of Wales and Catherine will be the 11th Princess of Wales.
