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Princess Diana was killed 21 years ago in a traffic collision in Paris, leaving behind her young children Prince William and Prince Harry.
With both of the Princes now mature and married, they have taken up their positions as Duke of Sussex and Duke of Cambridge, with their wives Meghan and Kate becoming Duchesses.
When Diana married the heir of the throne Prince Charles, she was bestowed the title of Her Royal Highness (HRH) The Princess of Wales.
Kate became HRH The Duchess of Cambridge after marrying Prince William, who is second in line to the throne, so why was she not bestowed the title of princess too?
Why is Duchess Kate not a princess?
Kate Middleton married Prince William in 2011, to a countrywide service which captured the hearts of millions.
Prince William was bestowed the title of the Duke of Cambridge and following their marriage, Kate became the Duchess of Cambridge.
Princess Diana was given a similar title on her marriage to Prince Charles in 1981, but it was not the same as Kate’s.
Diana’s widely used moniker however is used incorrectly, as Diana’s official title is not Princess.
On her marriage to Prince Charles, Diana was given the title of Her Royal Highness The Princess Of Wales, she could also be known as Diana, Princess of Wales.
This is primarily because Charles isn’t just a Prince by birth, he was also invested as Prince of Wales in 1969.
This meant that Prince was his title in both England and Wales, making him a Prince twice.
Therefore, Diana adopted his title as Princess.
However, she was still known as Duchess in Scotland where Charles is Duke of Rothersay.
Why is Kate a Duchess, not a Princess?
Follwing his birth, William became His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales, styled after his parents’ titles and likewise Harry became His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales when he was born in 1984.
Having Prince or Princess precede the name in an official title is a birthright given to those in the royal family, and is not a title that can be given.
So while Diana was indeed a Princess, she was never officially ‘Princess Diana’.
Kate’s official title was also awarded to her following her marriage to William, and is officially Her Royal Highness Princess William, the Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn and Baroness Carrickfergu.
Kate is only a Princess due to William’s title, and this does not factor into her official titles in both England and Scotland.
In England, she is ‘Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge’, and in Scotland ‘Her Royal Highness, The Countess of Strathearn’.
So, while Kate is technically a Princess, it seems to play a fairly minor role in her title, with the Duchess part taking more importance.
Kate would only ever be known as ‘Princess Kate’ if she was born with the title, which may only be held by the children of the sovereign (as Charles or William will be).
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