When Prince William and Kate Middleton got married, the Queen made them Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Now that the Queen has passed away at the age of 96, with the former Prince Charles set to ascend to the throne as King Charles III—and now that Prince William is heir to the throne rather than Charles—what will Kate Middleton be known as now?
Well, the duchess' titles will depend on which titles Prince William is granted at this time. Firstly, in the aftermath of the Queen's death and his father's ascension, William will automatically become Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay, two titles which have been held by Prince Charles since Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne in 1952. That means that Middleton will now become Duchess of Cornwall and Duchess of Rothesay in Camilla Parker-Bowles' place.
But before you start thinking about how weird it is that Middleton will no longer be the Duchess of Cambridge, she actually will still hold that title, as royal expert Iain MacMarthanne told Marie Claire UK. Whether she will still commonly go by that title is another matter.
Now for the uncertain part: Prince Charles can choose whether or not to pass his title of Prince of Wales onto his successor, but it isn't automatic. That said, according to the Prince of Wales official website, "it is normally passed on when the existing Prince of Wales accedes to the throne." That means it's likely that Prince William will be "created" Prince of Wales, making Kate Middleton Princess of Wales (the first one since her husband's mother Diana). Since this would be her highest title, it's very possible that the couple heretofore known as the Cambridges might choose to become known as the Waleses instead, but this part will remain speculation until formal announcements are made.
-
The Best Spring 2025 Color Trends Are on Sale at NordstromFrom cherry red to butter yellow, here are the delectable shades to wear this season.
-
Khloé Kardashian Finds It "Insulting" When Kendall and Kylie Are Called Her Half-SistersIn fact, she "despises" it.
-
Hailey Bieber Prowls Through Paris in a Snow Leopard CoatThe beauty mogul dug a rare Saint Laurent piece out of storage for her whirlwind fashion week trip.
-
How Kate Middleton Revealed Her "Inner Steel" and Proved She Was a "Tough Cookie" During Awkward Party MomentThe future Queen has always stood her ground.
-
Americans Have a Surprising Favorite Member of the Royal Family, Per Latest Poll—and It Isn't Princess KateThe rankings are wildly different than the same U.K. survey.
-
Prince William Has a Surprising Claim to Fame After Claiming He's "Broken the Record" for This ActivityThe Prince of Wales brought major dad energy to a Football Association event.
-
Princess Kate Isn't Traveling Overseas This Month—But She Is Making This Major Solo Appearance InsteadMark your calendars, royal fans.
-
Prince William Is Heading to This Country for the First Time—But Princess Kate Won't be Joining HimThe visit is "off the table" for the Princess of Wales.
-
Queen Elizabeth Reportedly Did an Incredible Impression of Melania TrumpThe late monarch was a hilariously skilled mimic.
-
The Queen Mother Loved Male Company at Events: "The Bigger the Rogue, the Better""She loved all the reprobates in racing," horse trainer Nicky Henderson revealed.
-
Jewelry Expert Reveals Who Owns the Most Expensive Royal Engagement RingFrom pink sapphires to classic diamonds, these regal rings don't disappoint.
