Princess Kate Had Reservations Over Wales Title
Princess Kate was said to have privately voiced concerns about taking on the Princess of Wales title after Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022, amid awareness of the lasting public affection for Princess Diana. The account appears in a new biography that examines the early years of Prince William and Catherine’s roles following King Charles III’s accession.
In the book, author Russell Myers describes how aides believed Catherine wanted to respect the history of the position while forging her own path, and Express reported that she expressed reservations to Prince William and King Charles about assuming the title because of inevitable comparisons with Diana, who died in 1997.
Myers quotes unnamed courtiers saying Catherine “had a full appreciation of the history associated with the role” but was “determined to find her own path,” and adds that she was conscious of the “exceptional feeling for, and connection to, Princess Diana even 25 years after her death.” A former senior aide also told the author that there was “a bit of convincing” before she accepted that comparisons would come, while believing she could manage them in her own way.
Catherine has not publicly spoken about any initial hesitation, but the scrutiny around titles has long been part of her relationship with the media, including the period when Prince William warned the press over treatment of Catherine during their early years together.
William and Catherine became Prince and Princess of Wales in King Charles’s first speech as monarch, following the late Queen’s death, after previously holding the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge titles since their 2011 wedding. The Princess of Wales title is traditionally held by the wife of the heir to the throne, and is expected to pass in future when Prince George becomes Prince of Wales.
