The new Princess of Wales: Kate Middleton becomes first royal to use title, 25 years after Princess Diana's death
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: A highly determined Kate Middleton has vowed to create her own identity and legacy as the Princess of Wales, the same title which also happened to be associated with the late and beloved Princess of Wales, Diana. Kate Middleton has said that she "appreciates the history" associated with the role of the Princess of Wales but wants to create her ‘own path’, following in the footsteps of Diana, who died 25 years ago.
As reported by Daily Mail, Kate has become the first person since Diana to use the well-known title. Apparently, Camilla also had the same prestigious title to her name but she never used it due to the controversies of her affair with Charles. The royal source said, "The couple are focused on deepening the trust and respect of the people of Wales over time. The Prince and Princess of Wales will approach their roles in the modest and humble way they’ve approached their work previously."
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King Charles III confirmed his son Prince William would inherit the title of the Prince of Wales and his wife Kate would become Princess, in his first televised address to the nation since the death of the Queen. "Today, I am proud to create William, Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I have been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty" the kind said. "With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given."
The title of the Princess of Wales has been used by the wives of the Princes of Wales, since the 14th century. However, it is a courtesy title. Diana broke the fourth wall by championing issues such as Aids awareness, famously holding the hand of a man with the illness, as well as highlighting homelessness and joining campaigners calling for a ban on landmines. The mother of William and the Duke of Sussex was just 36 when she was killed in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997. Her death triggered one of the monarchy’s worst crises in modern history as the public grieved her loss and the royal family was accused of responding too slowly in the aftermath and failing to judge the public mood.
Kate described Diana as “an inspirational woman to look up to” and said she would have loved to have met her when interviewed following her engagement to William in 2010. To this day she still wears Diana’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring, with which William proposed.
