Kate Middleton is many things: the duch*ess of Cambridge, the Countess of Strathearn when she’s in Scotland, and the Princess of Wales following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the succession of Charles as the new King of England.
That last addition is particularly meaningful, as the royal has become the first Princess of Wales since the late Princess Diana, Prince William’s mother, held the title. It’s also likely the last title change Kate will have for a while since she and Wills are the next king and queen in waiting…which begs the following questions: What happens when William becomes King of England?
Catch Up With the Royals 👑
Why Is King Charles' Diagnosis Public While Kate Middleton's Is Private?
Anonymous Courtier Says Recent Royal Drama Is Not a Crisis "Yet"
Where Is Kate Middleton: Breaking Down Twitter's Conspiracy Theories
An Official Timeline of Prince William and Prince Harry’s “Royal Rift”
Meghan Markle Is Gearing Up for a New Podcast: Here’s What We Know
A Definitive Timeline of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Entire Relationship
Will Kate become the Queen, the Queen Consort, or something entirely different? Let’s get into all of it, starting with the fact that…
When Prince William is King, Kate will indeed become Queen Consort
In short: Yes, Kate will be Queen, but there are different types of queens you should probably know about. (I mean, this is the royal family we’re talking about! Things aren’t that simple.)
While we can expect Queen Catherine in the future, she will never be a queen in the same way the late Queen Elizabeth II was. And that’s because Queen Elizabeth II was what’s officially known as a queen regnant: a monarch with the same ranking as a king who has authority to reign over the kingdom (in this case, England) and has sovereign power.
Kate will instead be a queen consort, the wife of a reigning king (William, of course). In the role, she will support her husband in his duties, attend engagements, and help with charitable organizations that resonate with her. If you really wanna get into the weeds of that position, the royal family’s website states, “The role of the Queen’s Consort is primarily to provide companionship and moral and practical support to the Monarch. The Consort does not hold a formal position in the structure of government…[or] see State papers or hold official audiences.”
Camilla Parker Bowles was a queen consort (before the “consort” was “quietly” dropped from her name after Charles was appointed as King, but that’s a whole other story 👀). Before Camilla, the most recent person to hold the title was Queen Elizabeth II’s mother, although after King George VI's death, she assumed the title of Queen Mother so there would be no confusion between her and her daughter Elizabeth. In the case that William dies before Kate and their son Prince George becomes king, Kate will then become the Queen Mother. The more you know!
I hate to ask…but what happens if Prince William passes?
That would make Kate a queen dowager, the widow of a king. Kate would have a similar role and title as a queen consort but she wouldn’t actually go by “Queen Consort” because a new monarch would be in charge and she wouldn’t be their spouse.
Anyway! Here’s real-life footage of us trying to make sense of all these titles:
FAQs
Title Change Explained. Princess Kate Middleton will be getting a title change when her husband, Prince William, becomes the King of England. Royal historian Marlene Koenig confirmed to Hello! Magazine that Kate will become Queen Catherine.
What will Kate Middleton's title be when William is king? ›
The mother of three—who currently goes by Catherine, Princess of Wales—will be formally known as Queen Catherine when her husband Prince William becomes king, royal historian Marlene Koenig recently confirmed to Hello! Magazine. To be more specific, Kate Middleton's official royal title will be Queen Consort.
Does Kate Middleton's title change? ›
As for when Prince William eventually takes over from Prince Charles as the reigning monarch, Kate will then undergo a further title change and likely be known as Queen Catherine. Officially, she will be Queen consort, as she doesn't have any royal blood herself but rather married into the family.
Will the Middletons get a title? ›
Carole and Michael Middleton will not receive the title of Queen Mother when William is on the throne as this title is only reserved for the mother of the King or Queen, not the family of the consort.
What is the title change for Prince William? ›
As the eldest son of the monarch, William automatically became Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland on the accession of his father on 8 September 2022.
What will happen to Camilla if she outlives Charles? ›
According to reports, Queen Camilla would likely take on the title 'Queen Dowager' which means 'the widow of a king'. Notably, all widows of kings become queen dowagers but some get the title of queen mother if their children are reigning heirs.
What title will Camilla have when William is king? ›
She would likely become known as Queen Dowager, literally meaning 'the widow of a king'. Video Player is loading. This is a modal window.
What is Kate Middleton's last name now? ›
Kate was born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton and is now officially known as Catherine, Princess of Wales GCVO (that acronym references her "Royal Victorian Order"). She officially dropped her middle and last name upon marrying Prince William and also gained these fancy titles: duch*ess of Cambridge. Countess of ...
Will Pippa Middleton get a title when Kate is queen? ›
For now, Pippa Middleton's title is unlikely to change when Kate becomes Queen. According to HELLO! Magazine, Pippa isn't royalty—and any change in this status would be somewhat “unprecedented.” However, that doesn't mean Kate can't give her younger sister more of a significant role in the royal family.
Is Meghan Markle a princess? ›
She is referred to as the Princess of Wales. The Duke and duch*ess of Sussex's occupations on their son Prince Archie's U.K. birth certificate were listed as "Prince" and "Princess of the United Kingdom," although Meghan does not have a princess title, People magazine previously reported.
Middleton has officially been appointed “Royal Companion of The Order of the Companions of Honour." No royal has ever held this title before now, and King George V founded the order in 1917 to honor public service, arts, medicine and sciences.
Which is higher princess or duch*ess? ›
Customarily, a princess ranks higher than a duch*ess, because a princess is a member of royalty, and a duch*ess is a member of the nobility, and royalty outranks nobility in the majority of the world's social class systems. Yet, there may be occasions when a princess might become a duch*ess.
What is the difference between a Queen and a Queen Consort? ›
What's the difference between the Queen and the Queen Consort? The reigning monarch's wife is traditionally known as the Queen Consort, while the Queen (technically the “Queen Regnant”) refers to a woman who has ascended the throne through the pre-established familial line of succession and has sovereign power.
What will the era be called when William is king? ›
If William chooses to use his current name it will be the Gulielean Era - both are Latin. Male names tend to get Latinised for their eras. So for example Charles is the Carolinian age. So if William keeps his name, then the Latinised version would make his age the Gulielmian Age.
