Being the Princess of Wales: The triumphs and tragedies
The title of Princess of Wales has been used since the 14th century by the wife of the Prince of Wales. The princess is expected to be a future queen consort, as the Prince of Wales is a title reserved for the heir apparent to the British throne.
When the title was first recorded it was not connected to the English throne, it developed in an independent Wales and was first held by Eleanor de Montfort, the wife of the native Prince of Wales, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd. Unfortunately, Eleanor’s tenure as Princess of Wales was brief – she took the title following her wedding ceremony in 1278 but died giving birth to her first child in 1282.
The incumbent title holder is, of course Princess Catherine, born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton.
Catherine, more commonly referred to as Kate, married Prince William at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011, and became the Duchess of Cambridge. Their Royal Highnesses have three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Their official residence is Kensington Palace.
Catherine became Princess of Wales when William was created Prince of Wales by his father on September 9, 2022, who had succeeded as King Charles III the previous day, upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
OTHER NOTABLE PRINCESSES OF WALES
Catherine of Aragon (14 November 1501 – 2 April 1502) The daughter of Isabella I of Castille and Ferdinand II of Aragon, Catherine was three years old when she was betrothed to Arthur, heir apparent to the English throne. They married on 14 November 1501, and she became Princess of Wales. The couple were sent to Ludlow Castle on the borders of Wales to preside over the Council of Wales and the Marches. Shortly after, they both became ill. Arthur died on 2 April 1502; 16-year-old Catherine survived to find herself a widow and Dowager Princess of Wales.
Catherine then spent years in limbo, and during this time, she held the position of ambassador of the Aragonese crown to England – the first recorded female ambassador in European history.
Catherine married King Henry VIII, Arthur’s younger brother, shortly after his accession in 1509. Her second wedding took place on June 11, 1509.
On their fourth wedding anniversary, Henry appointed Catherine Regent in England with the titles “Governor of the Realm and Captain-General” while Henry was in France on a military campaign. During her six month period as Regent, Catherine led the English in battle to defeat a Scottish invasion