As wife of Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, Kate Middleton's royal title is the Duchess of Cambridge. But when the line of succession chances and Prince William's father, Prince Charles, becomes king, he will inherit the title of Prince of Wales while Kate will be the next Princess of Wales after late Princess Diana.
According to royal expert Iain MacMarthanne, Kate will also inherit new titles when her husband moves up the British line of succession. If Prince William inherits many of his father's titles, his wife will also have to be titled as the equivalent.
MacMarthanne said that these new dukedoms will be added to the titles that the Cambridges hold. However, the title of Prince of Wales, which has traditionally been given to the heir to throne, won't be passed down to Prince William automatically. It will be at Prince Charles discretion and decision just as Queen Elizabeth decided to give the title to him, as her heir, when he was in his 20s.
The royal expert said that if the Duke of Cambridge becomes the Prince of Wales, then Kate's new title will be automatically handed down. She will be the next Princess of Wales after Princess Diana, who received the title by virtue of her marriage to Prince Charles.
Prince Charles' second wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, has never held the title of Princess of Wales, when she is technically and automatically entitled for it, for a simple reason. According to royal expert Marlene Koenig, the title of Princess Of Wales has been largely associated with Princess Diana in this modern period.
Apparently, the royals would rather avoid sparking more negative feelings for Prince Charles' second wife. Koenig said that Camilla was not popular when she married into the royal family, as Princess Diana referred to her as the third person in their marriage.
Meanwhile, Kate is also destined to become the Queen Consort when Prince William is crowned the King after Prince Charles. Royal experts said that her fate of being crowned as the queen is more possible than Camilla.
Apparently, Buckingham Palace released a statement after Prince Charles married Camilla in 2005, saying that she will be known as the Princess Consort, not the Queen Consort, if the heir ascends to the throne. However, as Camilla has proven herself in the royal family, the palace's stance regarding this title may have likely changed in 2018 when the royal's official site removed an entry ever mentioning Princess Consort.
