Kate Middleton boasts a collection of formal titles, but there was one particular title that Prince William had hoped she could carry, which ultimately wasn’t granted. Before their grand 2011 nuptials, there was much speculation about the titles the couple would receive.
At the time, The Telegraph reported that Prince William wished to retain his birth name instead of taking on a dukedom, with a courtier reportedly informing the paper: “He says he was born Prince William and wants to continue to be known as that.”
Moreover, William had a specific title in mind for Kate, expressing: “He wants Kate to become Princess Catherine.”
Yet, this proposal did not align with the late Queen’s stance, as traditionally, princess titles are inherited by birth rather than marriage.
Royal expert Kenneth Rose noted that although the Queen has made exceptions before, it seemed improbable for Kate. 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 passed away, the Queen bestowed upon the Duchess of Gloucester the title Princess Alice, as a token of appreciation for her many years of dedicated service.”
Mr Rose posited that if Kate were to be named Princess Catherine right after marrying into the Royal Family, it might have set a precedent for other royals to seek similar title adjustments, according to Birmingham Live.
Mr Roseadded: “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 their majestic wedding ceremony, Kate adopted the title of Princess William of Wales, reflecting her status as the female counterpart to her husbands designation. Additionally, she received the duchess title and is commonly referred to as the Duchess of Cambridge.
