List of titles and honours of Catherine, Princess of Wales explained

Catherine, Princess of Wales has received several titles, decorations and honorary appointments both during her time as Duchess of Cambridge and Princess of Wales. Each is listed below; where two dates are shown, the former indicates the date of receiving the title or award and the latter indicates the date of its loss or renunciation.

Royal and noble titles and styles

Upon her marriage in 2011, Catherine became a British princess by virtue of marriage and gained the style of Royal Highness. She also gained the titles of Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn and Baroness Carrickfergus.[1] She was normally styled as "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge" except in Scotland, where she was instead styled "Her Royal Highness The Countess of Strathearn".[2]

Upon her father-in-law's accession to the throne on 8 September 2022, Catherine also became Duchess of Cornwall as well as Duchess of Rothesay, Countess of Carrick, and Baroness of Renfrew (all in Scotland).[3] [4] [5] She was thus briefly called "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge".[6] On 9 September 2022, the King announced the appointment of William as Prince of Wales, with Catherine thus becoming Princess of Wales.[4] As the wife of the Earl of Chester, she also bears the title Countess of Chester.[5] Catherine is known as "Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales", except in Scotland, where she is styled "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Rothesay".[7]

Commonwealth realms

Decorations and medals (Shown in order in which appointments were made, not order of precedence)

Country Date Decoration RibbonPost-nominal
letters
6 February 2012Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal[13]
6 February 2022Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal
6 May 2023King Charles III Coronation Medal

Honorary military appointments

Canada
United Kingdom

Other appointments

Honorific eponyms

Arms

Catherine, Princess of Wales
Notes:Catherine bears the arms of her husband impaled with those of her father. The family arms were granted to her father by the College of Arms on 19 April 2011. Thomas Woodcock, then Garter King of Arms, the senior officer of the College of Arms, helped the family with the design.[26] Meanwhile, the princess's entire heraldic achievement was approved by royal warrant by Queen Elizabeth II after the princess's marriage. The newly-approved arms included the addition of a new element specifically for the princess: a hind (female deer) supporter.[27]
Escutcheon:Quarterly first and fourth Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langed Azure second Or a lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure within a double tressure flory counterflory third Azure a harp Or stringed Argent, with over all a label of three points Argent, and on an inescutcheon ensigned by the coronet of the heir-apparent, quarterly, Or and Gules four lions passant guardant counterchanged, ensigned by the coronet of William's degree;[28] Impaled with a shield per pale Azure and Gules, a chevron Or, cotised Argent, between three acorns slipped and leaved Or.
Symbolism:The dividing line (between two colours) down the centre is a canting of the name 'Middle-ton'. The acorns (from the oak tree) are a traditional symbol of England and a feature of west Berkshire, where the family lived. The three acorns also denote the family's three children. The gold chevron in the centre of the arms is an allusion to Carole Middleton's maiden name of Goldsmith. The two white chevronels (narrow chevrons above and below the gold chevron) symbolise peaks and mountains, and the family's love of the Lake District and skiing. The white hind supporter echoes earlier royal heraldry, such as the white hind heraldic badge of Joan of Kent, Princess of Wales.
Previous Versions: Catherine's coat of arms prior to her marriage depicted the shield from her father Michael Middleton's coat of arms shaped into a lozenge suspended from a ribbon symbolising her unmarried state. Her sister, Philippa, also used the same coat of arms prior to her 2017 marriage. Her brother, James, will in due course inherit his father's coat of arms. The arms granted to her following her marriage were depicted without the Royal Victorian Order circlet, to which she was appointed in 2019.
Other Versions: In February 2013, Queen Elizabeth II approved the conjugal arms of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, consisting of their individual arms displayed side by side, beneath a helm and coronet denoting the duke's status as grandson of the sovereign. These were released in September of the same year.[29]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Prince William and Kate Middleton's new titles revealed. Beckford. Martin. Daily Telegraph. 29 April 2011. 23 April 2018. 0307-1235. https://web.archive.org/web/20180424081206/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8482573/Prince-William-and-Kate-Middletons-new-titles-revealed.html. 24 April 2018. live.
  2. News: 29 April 2011 . Royal wedding: New Scots title for royal couple . BBC News . 18 September 2022 . 5 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231005191131/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-13235825 . live .
  3. News: Furness . Hannah . Mendick . Robert . 10 September 2022 . Royal family title changes: William and Kate become Prince and Princess of Wales . . live . 10 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220910094407/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/0/new-royal-titles-family-prince-wales-william-kate-middleton/ . 10 September 2022 .
  4. News: 11 September 2022 . Prince of Wales: William speaks of honour after getting title . BBC News . 18 September 2022 . 18 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220918052903/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-62870604 . live .
  5. A Breakdown of Princess Catherine's Royal Titles Through the Years. Harper's Bazaar. Sabrina. Park. 22 December 2022. 27 June 2023. 8 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231108164023/https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a42318980/all-princess-kate-middleton-royal-titles/. live.
  6. Web site: Duke of Cornwall and Cambridge . royal.uk . 9 September 2022 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220909173443/https://www.royal.uk/the-duke-of-cambridge . 9 September 2022.
  7. Web site: King's visit to Scotland to mark coronation confirmed for July. BBC News. 9 June 2023. 9 June 2023. 24 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230924205547/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-65854216. live.
  8. News: William and Kate to receive highest Tuvalu award... for just visiting the nation. Express. Palmer. Richard. 30 March 2017. 12 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170412133031/http://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/786040/prince-william-and-kate-middleton-tuvalu-award-visit. 12 April 2017. live.
  9. Majesty/Joe Little. MajestyMagazine. 1054823629966446592. The Duchess of Cambridge is wearing the family order for the second time. Its first outing was at the Diplomatic Corps reception in December.. 23 October 2018. 23 October 2018.
  10. Kate Middleton Is Covered in Jewels for a State Dinner at Buckingham Palace. Harper's Bazaar. Erica. Gonzales. 23 October 2018. 23 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181024035453/https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a24119492/kate-middleton-tiara-necklace-dress-netherlands-state-dinner/. 24 October 2018. live.
  11. Web site: The Duchess of Cambridge appointed to the Royal Victorian Order. The Royal Family. 29 April 2019. 29 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190429225052/https://www.royal.uk/duchess-cambridge-appointed-royal-victorian-order. 29 April 2019. live.
  12. News: Milss. Rhiannon. King recognises Queen and Prince William in honours list and creates new role for Kate, Princess of Wales. https://web.archive.org/web/20240423152048/https://news.sky.com/story/king-recognises-queen-and-prince-william-in-honours-list-and-creates-new-role-for-kate-princess-of-wales-13121607. 23 April 2024. Sky News. 23 April 2024. 23 April 2024. live.
  13. Book: Medal Yearbook 2021 . 2021 . Token Publishing . Honiton, Devon . 978-1-908828-53-8 . 295.
  14. Kate Middleton was made an honorary Canadian ranger yesterday. The Cut. Alex. Rees. 6 July 2011. 2 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20181113212908/https://www.thecut.com/2011/07/kate_middleton_was_made_an_hon.html. 13 November 2018. live.
  15. Web site: 16 December 2015. The Duke of Edinburgh hands Air Cadet patronage to the Duchess of Cambridge. 13 January 2021. Royal Air Force. 8 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221208024727/https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/news/the-duke-of-edinburgh-hands-air-cadet-patronage-to-the-duchess-of-cambridge/. live.
  16. News: King reshuffles military roles with new duties for William and Kate. ITV. 11 August 2023. 11 August 2023. 11 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230811051707/https://www.itv.com/news/2023-08-10/king-reshuffles-military-roles-with-new-duties-for-william-and-kate. live.
  17. Web site: What is a royal ship sponsor?. Royal Central. Jess. Ilse. 30 June 2021. 30 June 2021. 30 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210630080131/https://royalcentral.co.uk/uk/cambridge/what-is-a-royal-ship-sponsor-162481/. live.
  18. Web site: Kate takes on Colonel of Irish Guards position from William. The Independent. Laura. Parnaby. 21 December 2022. 22 December 2022. 18 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230718034234/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/buckingham-palace-prince-of-wales-princess-of-wales-horse-guards-parade-welsh-guards-b2249678.html. live.
  19. Web site: Kate Middleton named Royal Princess' godmother. Stieghorst. Tom. 9 April 2013. Travel Weekly. 9 November 2022. 5 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231005185634/https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Kate-Middleton-named-godmother-of-Royal-Princess-cruise-ship. live.
  20. Web site: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend naming ceremony RRS Sir David Attenborough. The Royal Family. 25 September 2019. 21 December 2022. 24 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230924045718/https://www.royal.uk/duke-and-duchess-cambridge-attend-naming-ceremony-rrs-sir-david-attenborough. live.
  21. News: Prince William and Kate Middleton return to St Andrews University for anniversary celebrations. The Telegraph. 25 February 2011. Auslan. Cramb. 4 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180411005051/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/8347946/Prince-William-and-Kate-Middleton-return-to-St-Andrews-University-for-anniversary-celebrations.html. 11 April 2018. live. subscription.
  22. News: The Canadian Press. UW award honours Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. CTV. 26 July 2011. 26 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120314070525/http://swo.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110726/waterloo-award-prince-william-110726/20110726/?hub=SWOHome. 14 March 2012. live.
  23. News: University of Waterloo offers Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Award . Canada News Wire . 26 July 2011 . https://archive.today/20120904103546/http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2011/26/c7452.html . dead . 4 September 2012 . 26 July 2011.
  24. Web site: Minister Kent invites young Canadians to apply for Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Parks Canada Ambassador Program. Parks Canada. 16 January 2012. Queen's Printer for Canada. 9 September 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151016121132/http://www.pc.gc.ca/APPS/CP-NR/release_e.asp?id=1821&andor1=nr. 16 October 2015.
  25. Web site: Our Funds. Community Foundation of Prince Edward Island. 4 November 2021 . 29 January 2023. 28 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230128070034/https://www.cfpei.ca/about/funds/. live.
  26. Web site: The arms of Miss Catherine Middleton. College of Arms. 1 May 2011. 9 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180710010830/https://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/news-grants/grants/item/8-arms-of-catherine-middleton. 10 July 2018. live.
  27. Web site: Coat of Arms of Duchess of Cambridge . The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge . 14 November 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121106071755/http://www.dukeandduchessofcambridge.org/the-duchess-of-cambridge/titles-and-heraldry/coat-of-arms-0 . 6 November 2012.
  28. Web site: Prince William, Prince of Wales' Royal Standard Flag and Coat of Arms... . 25 June 2023 . Getty Images . 20 April 2023 . 25 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230625084028/https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/prince-william-prince-of-wales-royal-standard-flag-and-coat-news-photo/1483681204 . live .
  29. Web site: Conjugal arms of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. College of Arms. 27 September 2013. 4 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210917204814/https://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/news-grants/news/item/89-news-item-cambridge-conjugal. 17 September 2021. live.