Despite being one of the most beloved members of the Royal Family, Kate Middleton , is not a princess. But why isn’t she a princess, exactly?
When Prince William ascends the throne, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, will be beside him. Princess Diana was Prince Charles’ first wife, but the Duchess of Cambridge is not known as Princess Kate. So, what is the reason for this?
When Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, married Prince William in 2011, she became a member of the Royal Family.
After meeting at university, the couple had been dating for several years.
They have three children together since then: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
In a family of princes and princesses, Kate isn’t the only one who doesn’t have the title of Princess.
When Prince William and Kate married in 2011, the Queen bestowed a dukedom on him.
The couple received a new title as Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as a result of their dukedom.
However, this isn’t her only title.
Kate is known as the Countess of Strathearn in Scotland and Lady Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland.
In the Royal Family, royal women hold the following royal titles:
- Princess
- Duchess
- Countess
- Baroness.
Kate is still not known as Princess Kate, despite her stature and position.
Biological descendants of the reigning monarch are usually given the title of princess.
This means Kate’s daughter Charlotte can use the title of princess even if she doesn’t want to.
The following royal women, all of which are directly related to the Queen, hold the Princess title in their own right:
- Princess Royal
- Princess Beatrice
- Princess Eugenie
- Princess Charlotte.
Many royal watchers have pointed out that Diana, Princess of Wales, was not a direct descendant of the Queen but was still referred to as Princess Diana.
This was not, however, her official title; rather, it was a nickname given to her by members of the public because of how well-liked she was.
Princess Diana was formally known as Diana, Princess of Wales, after Prince Charles, who held the title of Prince of Wales.
Diana would have been Princess Charles if she had used the Princess title officially, inheriting it from her husband.
As a result of her marriage to Prince William, Kate is technically a princess in the same vein.
Princess William is the only princess title that the Duchess of Cambridge can use.
However, she will never be referred to as Princess Kate.
It is possible, however, that she will be referred to as Princess of Wales once Prince Charles becomes King and Prince William succeeds him as Prince of Wales.
Through their husbands, all women who marry princes from the Royal Family become princesses.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is therefore also known as Princess Henry, Duchess of Sussex.
