• News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content
Little known royal rule stopped Prince William giving Kate Middleton special title

Home> News> Royal Family

Updated 14:12 27 Sep 2024 GMT+1Published 13:35 27 Sep 2024 GMT+1

Little known royal rule stopped Prince William giving Kate Middleton special title

Prince William's request was rejected by the late Queen Elizabeth II

Kya Buller

Kya Buller

Prince William's hopes to give his wife Kate Middleton a special title was rejected by the late Queen Elizabeth II due to a little known royal rule.

William, the Duke of Cambridge, married Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, in 2011 at a televised ceremony watched by 162 million people across the globe.

William is next in line to the throne, and together with Kate has three children; Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Advert

The royal couple met at the University of St Andrews, with William proposing with his late mother Princess Diana's engagement ring.

When the two were wed, William had hoped to give Kate a special title but was refused.

In 2010, a courtier told the Daily Telegraph: "He says he was born Prince William and wants to continue to be known as that. William also had views on the name Kate should have taken on. He wants Kate to become Princess Catherine."

Ultimately, the Queen rejected the plea, reportedly due to a belief that people become princesses as a result of birthright rather than through marriage.

Advert

Kenneth Rose, a royal historian, added: "Kate is a commoner and could not be known as 'Princess Catherine'.

Prince William and Kate married in 2011 (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Prince William and Kate married in 2011 (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

"However, it is up to the Queen Elizabeth II what title she gives her and there have been one or two exceptions.

"When Prince Henry, the Duke of Gloucester died, the Queen gave the Duchess of Gloucester the title Princess Alice. This was, though, to reward her for years of loyal service."

Advert

Of course, the Duchess also now uses the title of Princess Kate - but it is thought that the idea was rejected at the time because it was, in a sense, too soon - and could potentially lead to further members of the royal family making similar requests.

Following the marriage between the pair, Kate became known as Princess William of Wales - the feminine iteration of William's title.

Kate and William have three children (Comic Relief/BBC Children in Need/Comic Relief via Getty Images)
Kate and William have three children (Comic Relief/BBC Children in Need/Comic Relief via Getty Images)

After Queen Elizabeth II's passing in 2022, Charles became King - and Kate became Catherine, The Princess of Wales, as a result of her husband receiving his father’s title of the Prince of Wales.

Advert

Princess Kate is now starting to return to the spotlight having completing chemotherapy and being declared cancer-free.

Kate accompanied a family video with the news on 9 September, writing: "Doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.

"I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.

"Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life."

Featured Image Credit: CAMERON SMITH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images/Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Topics: Royal Family, News, Kate Middleton, Prince William

Kya Buller
Kya Buller

Kya is a Journalist at Tyla. She loves covering issues surrounding identity, gender, sex and relationships, and mental health. Contact: [email protected]

X

@kyajbuller

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

20 mins ago
14 hours ago
  • Instagram/royalfamily
    20 mins ago

    Royal fans call out Melania Trump’s outfit choice to have dinner with King Charles

    Donald and Melania Trump joined King Charles and Queen Camilla for a luxurious state banquet at Windsor Castle last night

    News
  • Zak Hussein - Pool via Samir Hussein/WireImage
    14 hours ago

    Melania Trump’s 'tight fist' during Kate Middleton meeting prompts brutal theory

    The First Lady landed at Windsor Castle for her second state visit to the UK

    News
  • Jordan Pettitt - WPA Pool/Getty Images
    14 hours ago

    King Charles praised for rare behaviour during Trump's UK visit

    The US president was met by the Prince and Princess of Wales earlier today, before King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted a military parade

    News
  • Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images
    14 hours ago

    Charlie Kirk's final text to Homeland Security Secretary before he died revealed

    Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in Utah last week

    News
  • Prince William and Kate Middleton install major security measures during new home renovation
  • Kate Middleton appears to address absence from royal duties with touching remark during latest appearance
  • Kate Middleton defended after being accused of ‘horrendous breach of protocol’ during appearance with Prince William
  • Newest Royal Family member joins Kate Middleton and Prince William during Scotland visit