Queen Elizabeth Denied Prince William's Request to Make Kate Middleton a Princess
"Kate is a commoner."
![Kate Middleton, Queen Elizabeth, and Prince William at Vernon Park during a Diamond Jubilee on June 13, 2012](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/d88QcZNo2iFnHtBer4Vr34-415-80.jpg)
Following Queen Elizabeth II's death on September 8, 2022, King Charles III acceded the throne. Prince William and Kate Middleton subsequently gained new titles, becoming known as the Prince and Princess of Wales. But according to a new report, Prince William had hoped that his wife would be given the Princess title much earlier.
William and Kate tied the knot in a fairytale royal wedding ceremony on April 29, 2011. Speaking to The Telegraph, a royal courtier revealed that Prince William asked the Queen to make his wife a Princess upon their marriage.
Unfortunately, Queen Elizabeth denied his request, citing royal tradition as the reason. Instead, Kate and William became known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
"He says he was born Prince William and wants to continue to be known as that," the courtier explained. "William also had views on the name Kate should have taken on."
"He wants Kate to become Princess Catherine," the courtier continued. However, the decision of whether or not to make someone a Princess was entirely down to the monarch.
Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth at the 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London.
"Kate is a commoner and could not be known as 'Princess Catherine,'" the source told The Telegraph. "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," they revealed. "This was, though, to reward her for years of loyal service."
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
The courtier also speculated that the Queen wanted to avoid changing tradition, which could open the floodgates to many more requests from other royals.
"I should think that there will be some pressure put on him [William] not to change the system," the courtier told the outlet.
While William's original request was denied by the Queen, his wife has now received her formal Princess title. And one day in the future, of course, Princess Kate will become the Queen.
Amy Mackelden is a contributing editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.
-
Angelina Jolie Reveals the Mother-Daughter Matching Tattoo She Shares With 16-Year-Old Vivienne
“It means so much to us separately and together."
By Danielle Campoamor Published
-
Kim Kardashian Visited the Menendez Brothers in Prison Following 'Monsters' Premiere
The reality star was reportedly joined by actor Cooper Koch, who plays Erik Menendez in the Netflix series.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Kendall Jenner Packs a Corseted Blazer for Paris Fashion Week
The model is equal parts French girl and '90s muse.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
King Charles Has "Left the Door Open" for Prince Harry With Strategic Move, Royal Expert Claims
Could they meet when Harry goes back to the U.K.?
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
The Touching Detail You Might Have Missed From Queen Elizabeth's Funeral
The late monarch's groom used one of her iconic possessions to say goodbye.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William Has a New, Equally Bearded Right-Hand Man
They're twinning!
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Princess Kate's Cancer Update Video Contains Powerful "Symbolism," According to a PR Expert
I never thought of it that way.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Kate Middleton Is Already Back to Royal Duties After Holding First Meeting Since Chemotherapy
The Princess of Wales attended a Royal Foundation meeting on Sept. 17.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
All About Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Rarely-Seen Cocker Spaniel, Orla
The pup made a surprise appearance in the princess's cancer update video.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Meghan Markle Wasn't Cropped Out of Prince Harry's 40th Birthday Post by the Royal Family
Royal sources refuted allegations of a Buckingham Palace snub.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince William and Prince Harry "Unified" After the Death of Their Mother Princess Diana
"Please, please remember, don’t ever forget that you’re brothers."
By Amy Mackelden Published