Titles
Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant, succession laws to change soon
Speculation in the press about the Duchess of Cambridge being pregnant has increased in recent weeks, and on 3 December that speculation was finally laid to rest by an announcement from Clarence House that she was pregnant but suffering from severe morning sickness and was being hospitalised for a few days. According to the announcement, Kate is in the very early stages of pregnancy, meaning that the baby is probably due to be born next summer. Although many people were hoping for a Jubilee Year baby, we did at least get a Jubilee Year announcement!
Is Kate a Princess?
As expected, the Queen conferred a dukedom on Prince William on the morning of his wedding. He is now HRH The Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, and Baron Carrickfergus. When Kate Middleton married him, she became HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn, and Baroness Carrickfergus instead of Princess William of Wales, as she would have been known if Prince William hadn’t been given a dukedom.
William and Kate: Titles and Precedence
The announcement that Prince William is to marry his longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton has led to speculation about the titles they’ll have when married and also about Kate’s precedence with respect to other royal ladies.
First, despite the claims by some royal watchers and reporters, Kate will almost certainly not be known as Princess Catherine of Wales.
Should Charles be King? And Should Camilla be Queen?
The engagement of Prince William to Kate Middleton has given a new lease of life to the perennial question of the succession. Should Prince Charles be king? Should Camilla become queen if Charles does become king? Ever since the Prince and Princess of Wales split up, and especially since Diana’s death, and most especially since Charles’s second marriage, there have been articles and polls in certain newspapers showing that the British public would like William to follow the Queen on the throne, even in Charles’s lifetime. Other polls over the last five years have shown that a majority of Britons don’t wan’t the Duchess of Cornwall to be queen consort even if Charles does become king.