WILLIAM AND KATE’S TITLES ARE OFFICIAL
Prince, Princess of Wales ‘Sealed’
More than five months after King Charles III named son Prince William and daughter-in-law Kate Middleton as the United Kingdom’s latest Prince and Princess of Wales, the titles are now official.
The official title change came when the Letters Patent passed the Great Seal of the Realm on Feb. 13, per People. The Crown Office announced that development on Friday in a notice in The Gazette, the U.K.’s official public record.
“In accordance with the direction of His Majesty the King, Letters Patent have passed the Great Seal of the Realm, dated the 13th February 2023 for creating His Royal Highness Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, Duke of Cornwall Rothesay and Cambridge, Earl of Carrick and Strathearn, Baron of Renfrew, Baron Carrickfergus, K.G., K.T., Lord of the Isles and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland, Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester,” the Crown Office’s notice reads.
Charles, the previous Prince of Wales, passed the title to William in a speech to the nation on Sept. 9, 2022, one day after the death of Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
“Today, I am proud to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I have been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty,”
Charles said at the time. “With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the center ground where vital help can be given.”
Meanwhile, the previous Princesses of Wales include Princess Diana — Charles’ first wife, who died in 1997 — and Camilla, Queen Consort — Charles’ second wife, who opted to go by Duchess of Cornwall during her husband’s time as prince, according to Today.
After Charles named Kate the new Princess of Wales, a palace spokesperson said the 41-year-old “appreciates the history associated with this role” but will “understandably want to look to the future as she creates her own path.”
In a conversation with Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford later in September, William, 40, “acknowledged his and the Princess’s deep affection for Wales, having made their first family home in Anglesey, including during the earliest months of Prince George’s life,” Kensington Palace said in a statement, per Reuters.
“The Prince and Princess will spend the months and years ahead deepening their relationship with communities across Wales,” the palace added. “They want to do their part to support the aspirations of the Welsh people and to shine a spotlight on both the challenges and opportunities in front of them.”