The Prince of Wales will probably be referred to as King William V when he succeeds his father, King Charles III. However, there has been some confusion regarding the name of his wife Catherine; some reports claim that she will go by Queen Catherine VI.
The creator of the Royal Musings blog, Marlene Koenig, a royal historian, confirmed that Catherine will just be dressed like Queen Catherine. It is true that Catherine will be the sixth consort to have a name other than Catherine, but she will not have a regnal number; only the sovereign, and not their consort, has a number following their name.
Photo: © Karwai Tang
Everything you need to know about the Princess of Wales’s impending royal title is provided here.
How Catherine’s title has changed since the late Queen’s death
William was given many of his previous titles, such as the Duke of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales, upon King Charles’s accession to the throne. The Princess of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are the titles that Catherine also attained. The royal mother of three is referred to as the Duchess of Rothesay when she is in Scotland.
What will happen when William becomes King?
As we previously stated, when William becomes King, Catherine will become his Queen Consort and will be known as Queen Catherine. Catherine won’t have a number following her name because she is not a regnant.
Catherine will not be a Princess consort, even though Prince Philip, the late Queen’s husband, is referred to as the Queen’s consort. Marlene remarked, “The queen is the traditional spouse of the king.”
Photo: © Pool
Then why is the Queen’s consort, Prince Philip, referred to as a prince rather than a king? Marlene clarified, saying that in most monarchies, a queen’s spouse must be given a title. A husband does not have the same status as his wife, and the same is true for princesses’ spouses.” This clarifies why Jack Brooksbank, the spouse of Princess Eugenie, did not receive a new title upon their marriage.
“Philip was not created a Prince of the UK until 1957,” Marlene continued. Before the wedding, George VI bestowed upon him the titles of UK HRH, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich; however, it was not until almost a decade later that he was made a British Prince.” According to historian Tim Heald, Philip received the title Prince after ten years of marriage.
Photo: © Samir Hussein
What will happen when William dies?
If Catherine lives longer than her husband, her title will change once more. If Prince George, Princess Charlotte, or Prince Louis become the heirs to their father’s throne and William passes away before his wife, Catherine will probably be referred to as the Queen Mother. Catherine will be the “queen dowager,” or widow of a king, in the improbable event that another royal ascends to the throne.
