The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, is the most beloved figure of the British Royal Family for several reasons, and her recent courageous fight against cancer has only increased the affection that the British public feels for her.
Friendly and always with a positive attitude, Kate has earned the affection of friends and strangers alike. But it turns out that the legendary Queen Elizabeth IIdid not want Kate to be called Princess. Why? Here’s the story:
After Queen Elizabeth II‘s passing on September 8, 2022, King Charles III took the throne, and with that, Prince William and Kate Middleton were bestowed with their new titles: the Prince and Princess of Wales. However, reports have surfaced that William had hoped Kate would be called “Princess” much earlier in their marriage.
According to a royal courtier, Prince William requested that Kate be made Princess Catherine after their iconic royal wedding in 2011. Speaking to The Telegraph, the insider revealed, “He says he was born Prince William and wants to continue to be known as that.” He also had strong feelings about the title his wife should hold. “William wanted Kate to become Princess Catherine,” the courtier explained.
Queen Elizabeth’s reluctance to break tradition
However, despite William’s hopes, Queen Elizabeth declined to make an exception to the long-standing tradition. Instead, Kate and William were given the titles Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Queen, known for sticking to royal protocol, reportedly cited tradition as the reason behind her decision.
“Kate is a commoner and could not be known as ‘Princess Catherine,'” the source elaborated. However, it wasn’t entirely unheard of for the monarch to make exceptions. “When Prince Henry, the Duke of Gloucester died, the Queen gave the Duchess of Gloucester the title Princess Alice,” the courtier noted. “But that was to recognize her years of loyal service.” Essentially, it was rare and required extraordinary circumstances.
It’s also suggested that the Queen wanted to prevent setting a precedent that could lead to more requests from other royals. The courtier speculated, “I should think that there will be some pressure put on William not to change the system.”
Though William’s original request was denied, Kate finally earned her formal Princess title upon Charles’ ascension to the throne. Now known as the Princess of Wales, her title reflects her significant role in the monarchy. In the future, Kate will take on an even higher role when she becomes Queen alongside William, who is first in line for the throne. The journey from Duchess to Princess has been a long one for Kate, but her time has now come.