Princess Charlotte, the beloved daughter of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, is poised to inherit a prestigious title from her great aunt once her father ascends to the throne.
While this transition may be far off in the future, with her grandfather set to become king first, Princess Charlotte is already preparing to assume a significant role within the royal family.
Upon Prince William’s eventual coronation, Princess Charlotte stands to potentially claim the esteemed Princess Royal title from her great aunt, Princess Anne.
Traditionally, the eldest daughter of a monarch is granted the Princess Royal title; however, only one royal can hold this distinguished position at a time.
Princess Charlotte is slated to become the eighth Princess Royal, a title that will only be passed down to her upon Princess Anne’s passing.
Should Princess Anne still retain the Princess Royal title when Prince William assumes the throne, Princess Charlotte will have to bide her time until the opportunity arises.
The current holder of the title, Princess Anne, was bestowed with this honor in 1987, succeeding Princess Mary, the sole daughter of King George V.
The Queen, prior to her reign, was the eldest daughter of King George VI; however, she did not bear the title of Princess Royal due to its exclusivity.
Instead, the title was held by her aunt, Princess Mary, leading to the Queen being known as Princess Elizabeth during that period.
In the event that Prince William takes the throne while Princess Anne remains the Princess Royal, Princess Charlotte will have to wait for her chance to assume the prestigious title.
Ultimately, the decision to confer the title of Princess Royal upon Princess Charlotte will rest with Prince William, given that the title is held for life.
The bestowal of the Princess Royal title is not automatic and can be subject to timing and circumstances.
Princess Anne, for instance, did not receive the title until 22 years after the passing of Princess Mary in 1965, highlighting the nuanced nature of royal protocols.
Furthermore, when Prince Charles ascends to the throne, there will be additional shifts in titles within the royal family.
Prince William is set to inherit his father’s current title and take on the role of Prince of Wales.
Consequently, Kate will be entitled to the esteemed title of Princess of Wales, previously held by her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.