Prince William and Princess Kate don’t go by the title of Prince and Princess of Wales in Scotland. The royal couple opts to use the titles Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in that country.
Recently, William joined the King and Queen at Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh for the Order of the Thistle service. He chose to use his Scottish title for the day, which fell during Royal Week in Scotland. What’s the history behind these old and regal titles? Please continue reading to find out!
“The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland”
This title given to Prince William dates back to 1469! It’s a traditional title for the male heir to the Scottish throne while making Kate the Duchess of Rothesay. Moreover, King Charles first gave his eldest son this title in his speech on September 9, 2022, after Queen Elizabeth’s passing.
The Monarch revealed how meaningful these titles were to him and passed them on to William. Additionally, the Wales royal also got the Duke of Cornwall title, making him responsible for the Duchy of Cornwall.
William and Kate temporarily changed their social media names after Elizabeth’s death. Their account started to reflect their new titles as the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. Plus, Charles also named William the Prince of Wales. It’s a title historically held by the male heir to the English throne since around 1301.
The Reigning Monarch previously held this title for over sixty years. Furthermore, William and Harry’s late mum, Princess Diana, became the Princess of Wales after marrying Charles in 1981.
Unfortunately, she passed away in 1997 at thirty-six, and Camilla chose not to use the title Princess of Wales. When Camilla married Charles in 2005, she opted for Duchess of Cornwall instead. Besides being the Prince of Wales, William also holds other titles.
These include the Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. On their wedding day in April 2011, the late Queen granted William and Kate the titles of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Moreover, the couple primarily used the title for over a decade. The future King was also named Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus, giving Kate the corresponding titles. They now use their higher-ranking titles.
An insider revealed that the duo is trying to “deepen the trust and respect of the people of Wales.” Kate and her husband will continue to approach their roles modestly and humbly. Unlike his father, William had no formal investiture ceremony for becoming the Prince of Wales.
As for Kate, she is keen to honour the role’s history while also forging her own path. The princess did not attend the Thistle Service in Scotland on July 3, as she is currently undergoing cancer treatment. Middleton hopes to participate in a few public engagements over the summer.
We’ll have to wait and see if she is ready to return to full-time royal duties. Keep an eye on Soap Opera Daily for more Prince William updates! Which is your favourite title given to William? Tell us in the comments.
