The royal title Kate Middleton received but never uses

The royal title Kate Middleton received she doesn't use revealed, seen here with Prince William leaving after the National Service of Thanksgiving — (Image credit: Photo by Kirsty O'Connor - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

There is said to be one royal title Kate Middleton received when she married Prince William that she never uses.

Kate Middleton has used several titles over the years depending on where she is, but there’s a lesser-known one she’s believed to have.
It’s understood that the Duchess of Cambridge could technically also be Princess William, similar to Princess Michael of Kent’s title.
This royal news comes as we revealed the one thing Prince William and Kate Middleton are already doing differently compared to the ‘staid’ Queen.

As a senior member of the extended Royal Family and future Queen Consort, the Duchess of Cambridge is primarily known by this iconic title. However, recent reports have claimed that Prince William and Kate Middleton plan to ditch their royal titles to appear “less stuffy”. Instead, it’s been suggested that they could wish to be known as simply William and Catherine at engagements in the future. But though they might not use them all the time going forwards, the couple have multiple royal titles.

Over the years many might’ve wondered if Kate Middleton is a Princess and it seems that there is reportedly one royal title Kate Middleton received but never uses…

As previously reported by Town & Country, Kate Middleton took on her husband Prince William’s title when they married. Whilst she might now be best known as the Duchess of Cambridge, after Prince William had the title of Duke of Cambridge bestowed upon him by the Queen before their wedding, their marriage means she technically gained another one.

According to the publication, Duchess Kate effectively became Princess William on that magical day in April 2011. Her official occupation was also reportedly listed on the couple’s son Prince George’s birth certificate as Princess of the United Kingdom.

Whilst this might be expected given she's a working royal, the suggestion that Kate could also be Princess William follows a family pattern. The Queen’s cousin, Prince Michael of Kent’s wife Marie-Christine von Reibnitz, is Princess Michael of Kent.

Prince Michael of Kent, Princess Michael of Kent, Sophie Winkleman, Lady Frederick Windsor and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace

Neither Princess Michael nor the Duchess of Cambridge are entitled to be called Princess Marie-Christine or Princess Catherine. This is because the wives of male royals traditionally take their husband’s titles and only Princesses of royal blood, like the Queen’s grandchildren Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, are known by their own first names as Princesses.

So whilst it’s understood Kate Middleton could technically be Princess William, she’s never used this title, unlike Princess Michael of Kent, whose husband’s most senior title is Prince of Kent. However, Kate has used other titles besides the Duchess of Cambridge over the years - again mirroring Prince William’s titles.

As well as being made Duke of Cambridge by the Queen in 2011, the future King also received the titles Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus. These are used when he is in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively and Kate is therefore known as Countess of Strathearn and Baroness Carrickfergus there.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge smiles during a visit to Cardiff Castle

She will also one day be Princess of Wales when Prince William is made Prince of Wales. After a fan told her she’d make a “brilliant” Princess of Wales over the Jubilee weekend, Kate reportedly replied that they were “very kind”, before pointing at her husband and saying, “Well I’m in good hands”.

When the Duchess of Cambridge becomes the Princess of Wales, this will make her the first royal to officially use this deeply significant title since her late mother-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales.

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Emma is a Royal Editor with nine years of experience in publishing. She specialises in writing about the British Royal Family, covering everything from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her extensive royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the latest royal outing or unmissable show to add to your to-watch list, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!