King Charles III’s tribute to Princess Kate and Prince William as they took on the new titles of Prince and Princess of Wales has gone viral, after footage from his first speech as monarch has resurfaced on TikTok, two years after his accession to the throne.
Charles became king on September 8, 2022 upon the death of his 96-year-old mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Her death set in motion a historic chain of events within the monarchy, which saw Charles immediately take over the crown and members of the royal family alter their positions of seniority in the official line of succession.
When Charles became king, Prince William became first in line to inherit the throne. To signify his eldest son’s new position as heir apparent, the monarch gave him and daughter-in-law Kate new titles.
Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty Images/Samir Hussein/WireImage
William and Kate became the new Prince and Princess of Wales. The Prince of Wales title dates back to the 14th century and, for successive generations, has been given to the eldest son of the monarch. It is not inherited, but given by the ruling king or queen of the day.
Charles was made Prince of Wales by his mother, Queen Elizabeth, in 1958 when he was just 9 years old. He held the title for 64 years, becoming the longest-serving Prince of Wales in British history.
Charles announced his son and daughter-in-law’s title elevation during his first speech as monarch, filmed at Buckingham Palace in London on September 9, 2022. The address was broadcast across Britain and the Commonwealth later that same day.
Uploaded to TikTok by user @princessmiddleton_ on September 9, footage of Charles’ tribute to his son and daughter-in-law has been viewed over 420,000 times on the platform, so far.
“As my heir, William now assumes the Scottish titles, which have meant so much to me. He succeeds me as Duke of Cornwall and takes on the responsibilities for the Duchy of Cornwall, which I have undertaken for more than five decades,” Charles said.
“Today, I am proud to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I have been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty.
“With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the center ground where vital help can be given.”
The video has received in excess of 26,000 likes and over 100 comments, many of which have praised William and Kate.
“Awesome couple. The Prince and Princess of Wales,” wrote one TikTok user.
“So proud of these two,” posted another. “Future King and Queen of England.”
With her husband’s elevation to Prince of Wales, Kate became the first Princess of Wales to use the title since the death of Princess Diana.
The title is automatically assumed by the wives of the Prince of Wales, and so, before Kate, Queen Camilla was legally the Princess of Wales. However, out of respect and sensitivity for the late Diana, she opted to be known by the lesser title of Duchess of Cornwall.
Charles’ relationship with Kate has taken on increased public focus since the beginning of 2024, when both royals were diagnosed with cancer.
Charles has publicly described Kate as his “beloved daughter-in-law.”
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek‘s royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.
