Since King Charles ascended to the throne, Kate Middleton has been known as the Princess of Wales, a title previously held by her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. However, a new book reveals that there was a time when Kate considered not taking on this title.
The book, “Catherine, The Princess of Wales: The Biography” by Robert Jobson, suggests that Kate once contemplated refusing the title due to the intense comparisons with Diana. After King Charles became monarch in September 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, he quickly named Prince William as the Prince of Wales, making Kate the Princess of Wales by extension.
In an excerpt published in the Daily Mail, Jobson explains that Kate was aware she would one day step into the role once held by Diana, but she found the prospect daunting. The constant comparisons between her and Diana, who passed away tragically, were stressful for Kate. At one point, she even considered following the example of Camilla, who chose not to use the title Princess of Wales and was instead known as the Duchess of Cornwall.
Both Kate and William addressed the topic of Diana during their engagement interview in 2010. When asked by interviewer Tom Bradby if the legacy of Diana was intimidating, William reassured that there was no pressure on Kate. He emphasized that it was important for them to forge their own path, saying, “No one is going to try to fill my mother’s shoes. What she did was fantastic. It’s about making your own future and your own destiny, and Kate will do a very good job of that.”
When Camilla married King Charles in 2005, she could have taken the title of Princess of Wales but chose not to, out of respect for its association with Diana. Initially, it was also planned that she would be known as Princess Consort when Charles became King. However, with public sentiment warming towards her and with Queen Elizabeth II’s approval, she was crowned Queen alongside Charles at his Coronation last year.
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