Is Prince William a Prince, a Crowned Prince or a Duke?
Having a title is something that very few people have the honor of ever experiencing in their lives. As we know, many of the members of the British royal family have titles, whether it be “prince”, “princess”, “duke”, “countess”, or something else.
If there was only one title to be had per person, it would be pretty easy to keep track of. However, the fact that many of the royals have more than one title, and things are constantly changing, it can become somewhat bewildering at times.
While a lot of royal fans may assume that Prince William is nothing more than a prince, that is not the case. Let’s break down when and how royal titles are received, and what they all mean.
What is Prince William’s official title?
Most often, we hear William being referred to as “Prince William”. As it turns out, he has more than just the one, easy to remember title. Prince William is also known as His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, and Baron Carrickfergus.
It is important to remember that the prince wasn’t born with all of these titles. From the time of his birth until marriage, he was His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales. On the day of his wedding to Kate Middleton, William’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, granted him the titles of “duke”, “earl”, and “baron”.
What do all of these titles mean?
All of the titles that Prince William holds may leave many royal fans wondering what they all mean. Titles are a way to rank the members of a royal family. A prince is the son or grandson of a ruling monarch. In order to be a prince, the person must be a direct descendant, therefore having royal blood.
It is also important to note that someone is born a prince, as William was. So what is a duke? He is the ruler of a small territory and ranks directly below the king or queen. Other titles that are given to royal family members are granted according to how far they are from inheriting the throne, for example, marquess, earl, and viscount.
Is William a prince, a crowned prince, or a duke?
William is a prince, a crowned prince, and a duke. A royal family member doesn’t lose the title of “prince” upon becoming a “duke” as one might assume. The fact that William is both a prince and a crowned prince, though, raises the question as to what the difference is between the two.
While a prince is a direct descendant of a ruling monarch, a crowned prince, such as William, is one that is in the direct line of succession to the throne. Since William will be king upon the death of his father, Prince Charles, he is technically a crowned prince.
Why don’t all of the royal family members have titles?
While some royal family members have one title, others have several, and some have none at all. Zara Tindall, for instance, the daughter of Anne, Princess Royal, never had a royal title.
Currently 18th in line for the British throne, her parents chose not to give her and her brother, Peter Phillips, royal titles when they were born. Recently, there was speculation as to whether or not Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son would get a title. His parents chose not to give him one at this time, and it was their personal choice.
Royal titles are a bit confusing, especially when someone has more than one. Prince William has another, very important title to look forward to in his life when he ascends the throne as king.