Prince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louismay have some special royal titles in their futures.
WithPrince WilliamandKate Middleton, the current Prince and Princess of Wales, set to be king and queen consort someday, it’s likely that their three children will also receive new royal titles — some corresponding with their father’s accession to the throne, and others not.
Prince George, 10, is currently second in the line of succession to the throne behind his father. It’s possible that Prince George will receive the title of duke when he gets married — although which dukedom he will get remains unclear. Queen Elizabeth bestowed duke titles on her grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry on their wedding days — Prince William became the Duke of Cambridge (making Kate the Duchess of Cambridge), while Prince Harry was titled the Duke of Sussex (making Meghan Markle the Duchess of Sussex). It’s likely that King Charles will continue the tradition.
Prince George and Prince William at Wimbledon 2023.Karwai Tang/WireImage
Karwai Tang/WireImage
Only one living woman can be called the Princess Royal, which is why Queen Elizabeth never held the title: Her aunt, Princess Mary, possessed it until she died in 1965.
Since King Charles has no daughters, the next potential Princess Royal is Princess Charlotte. That, of course, is a long way off and dependent on two factors: Prince William would need to be king, and Princess Anne would need to no longer be alive.
Princess Charlotte at the coronation on May 6, 2023.Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage
Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage
However, theSuccession to the Crown Act 2013may change everything. The act stated thatbirth order determines who will become the next king or queen of the U.K., regardless of gender. Had it not been in place, Princess Charlotte would have lost her spot when Princess Kategave birthto her younger brother, Prince Louis.
And Kate and William’s daughter wouldn’t be the first with her name to hold the title! Charlotte, Princess Royal, was the daughter of King George III and used the title from 1789 to 1828.
Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at the coronation on May 6, 2023.Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty
Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty
Prince Louis, 5, may also someday receive a title that currently belongs to another family member. Prince Andrew is now the Duke of York, the traditional title for the monarch’s second oldest son. Louis may be the next Duke of York, but he can’t hold the title at the same time as his great-uncle.
Prince Harry, the second son of King Charles, did not receive the title of Duke of York because his uncle Prince Andrew, the current title holder, was still alive when King Charles became monarch.
Kate Middleton and Prince Louis in May 2023.Daniel Leal - WPA Pool/Getty
Daniel Leal - WPA Pool/Getty
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were born with His/Her Royal Highness titles, and they will keep those throughout their lives unless they are taken away. If Prince George becomes king as expected, he will trade “His Royal Highness” for “His Majesty.”
Prince William and Princess Kate’s three childrenexperienced a title changein September when their great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth died and their grandfather King Charles acceded the throne. Based on their parents' titles, they were previously known as Prince George of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Prince Louis of Cambridge. When William and Kate became the Prince and Princess of Wales, the kids became Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales.
Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
The Prince and Princess of Wales with their children at Trooping the Colour 2023.Chris Jackson/Getty
Chris Jackson/Getty
In a less formal version of the “last name,” the children are now known to their friends and teachers at school as George Wales, Charlotte Wales and Louis Wales (rather than Cambridge, which they used before Sept. 2022).
source: people.com
