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Why Princess Charlotte's children will never receive royal title

Home> News> Royal Family

Updated 14:10 19 Nov 2024 GMTPublished 13:44 19 Nov 2024 GMT

Why Princess Charlotte's children will never receive royal title

Royal tradition means that the Wales' only daughter won't pass her HRH title on to any children she may bear

Rhianna Benson

Rhianna Benson

When 11-year-old Prince George becomes King of England after his father, Prince William, the children he bears will be automatically handed down HRH titles - a.k.a, either 'Prince' or 'Princess'.

Sadly, however - despite currently being third in line to the throne - George's little sister Charlotte will not receive the same luxury, due to a rather controversial royal tradition that dates back centuries.

Only two of the Wales' children will pass on the titles (Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Only two of the Wales' children will pass on the titles (Karwai Tang/WireImage)

One might think that being related to a high-profile member of the Royal Family immediately gains you access to a pretty prestigious title - particularly if you're the son or daughter of a Prince or Princess.

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After all, isn't that why William and Harry both bagged the same title when they were born to the former Prince Charles and his late wife Diana?

And the same rule would apply to George, Charlotte, and Louis, who were born to William and Kate Middleton in the years that followed, right?

Wrong, apparently.

In fact, of the trio, only George and Louis will automatically hand 'Prince' and 'Princess' roles down to any kids they produce in the future - not Charlotte.

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But why?

As far back as historians can tell, royal titles are only handed down through males born into the family, and not females.

Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie received HRH titles when they were born (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie received HRH titles when they were born (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)

Etiquette expert Lucy Hume recently explained the tradition, for those who still can't get their heads around it.

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Speaking to Town & Country, she said: "Royal titles are inherited through sons, so if Princess Charlotte has children they would not automatically inherit the titles HRH, Prince, or Princess."

That said, however, she added that it would be possible for Charlotte to hand down the titles, if she received express permission from a monarch - either her father, Prince William, when he ascends to the throne following King Charles' death, or her brother, Prince George, after that.

Such was the case for the late Queen Elizabeth.

Her two eldest sons, Charles and Andrew, both passed down the titles 'Prince' and 'Princess to their children - William, Harry, Beatrice, and Eugenie.

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Her youngest son Edward was awarded the same privilege when he and wife Sophie Wessex welcomed their kids, Louise and James - though they opted to decline their children's titles as a means of limiting the amount of royals with the same prefix.

Neither Peter nor Zara Phillips received the titles through their mother Princess Anne, in the same way that Charlotte's children won't (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Neither Peter nor Zara Phillips received the titles through their mother Princess Anne, in the same way that Charlotte's children won't (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)

As such, they were given the style of 'Lady' and 'Viscount' upon their birth.

In the case of Queen Elizabeth's only daughter, Princess Anne, however, when she and husband Captain Phillips welcomed children Peter and Zara, the pair didn't receive any choice in the matter, and the titles surpassed them.

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Interestingly, though, the late Queen did offer these grandchildren 'Prince' and Princess' titles, but these were turned town.

"For Peter and Zara Phillips, the Queen offered to give them a royal title when they were born, but Princess Anne and Captain Phillips opted to decline this offer," Hume told the publication.

Featured Image Credit: Karwai Tang/Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

Topics: Prince George, Royal Family, UK News

Rhianna Benson
Rhianna Benson

Rhianna is an Entertainment Journalist at LADbible Group, working across LADbible, UNILAD and Tyla. She has a Masters in News Journalism from the University of Salford and a Masters in Ancient History from the University of Edinburgh. She previously worked as a Celebrity Reporter for OK! and New Magazines, and as a TV Writer for Reach PLC.

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@rhiannaBjourno

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