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KATE Middleton has a number of formal titles to her name – but there was one special one that Prince William wanted her to have, but it was denied.
Before they tied the knot in 2011, there was much deliberation over what they would be known as.
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According to the Telegraph at the time, Prince William wished to continue going by this name, instead of becoming a duke.
A courtier reportedly told the publication: “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.
They continued: “He wants Kate to become Princess Catherine.”
However, at the time this didn’t go down well with the late Queen.
This is because traditionally princesses receive their titles through birth rather than marriage.
Royal historian Kenneth Rose claimed that Her Majesty had made exceptions in the past but was unlikely to do so here.
He explained: “Kate is a commoner and could not be known as ‘Princess Catherine’. “However, it is up to the Queen 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.”
He said if Kate had become Princess Catherine immediately after her wedding, other extended royal family members could have made their own requests for title changes.
Kenneth added: “If this happened, I am pretty certain that Princess Michael of Kent, for example, would ask to become Princess Marie-Christine. I should think that there will be some pressure put on him [William] not to change the system.”
Following William and Kate’s royal wedding, the royal bride became Princess William of Wales, which is the feminine form of her husband’s title.
She also gained the more commonly used title of the Duchess of Cambridge.
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Kate also became the Duchess of Rothesay and Countess of Chester, although these are lesser known.
Following the Queen’s death, she became Catherine, The Princess of Wales, with William taking his father’s Prince of Wales title.
In a nod to this, their three kids George, Charlotte and Louis now use the surname Wales at school, having previously gone by Cambridge.
And he may be King Charles now, but the monarch is said to be affectionately known as Grandpa Wales to the kids, in a nod to his former title.
What are Kate Middleton’s titles?
Princess of Wales (since September 9, 2022) – Following Queen Elizabeth II’s death, Kate became the Princess of Wales, a title previously held by Princess Diana.
Duchess of Cornwall – Inherited after Queen Elizabeth’s passing, it is passed down the royal line.
Duchess of Rothesay and Countess of Chester – Regional Scottish titles, along with others like Countess of Carrick and Baroness of Renfrew.
Duchess of Cambridge – Kate’s longest-held title, received after her 2011 marriage to Prince William.
Military titles:
- Colonel of the Irish Guards (2022)
- Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm (2023)
- Colonel-in-Chief of the 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards (2023)
- Royal Honorary Air Commodore of the RAF Coningsby and Air Cadets (2023).
