Using the title Princess of Wales is extremely poignant as she has always been so closely associated with William and Harry’s mother, Diana. Kate herself nodded at this link as she officially took on the role today. The couple will also be known as the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge. A 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 with the modesty and humility they have approached their work in the past “The new Princess of Wales appreciates the history associated with this role but will understandably want to look to the future as she forges her own path.” A royal source said the Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge will aim to “forge her own path” as she takes on the role of Princess of Wales – which is closely linked to William’s mother. In his first address to the nation, the Queen’s eldest son said his successor, Prince William, would also take the Scottish titles, “which mean so much to me”, and succeed him as Duke of Cornwall. The latest title means he takes charge of the Duchy of Cornwall, which manages a number of estates and 150,000 acres of farmland across England and Wales, with an estimated annual income of £20m a year. Confirming the change, King Charles said: “Today, I am proud to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I have been so privileged to bear for so much of my life and duty. “With Catherine by his side, our new Prince and Princess of Wales, I know, will continue to inspire and guide our national conversations, helping to bring the marginalized to the center where vital help can be given.” The couple are taking over the roles previously held by King Charles and his ex-wife Diana, Princess of Wales. The king received the title of Prince of Wales when he was 10 years old and had an investiture at Caernarvon Castle in 1969. The role is not automatically passed down the generations and the decision to pass it on rests with the monarch. Prince William was honored with the title of Duke of Cambridge after his marriage to Kate Middleton in 2011 and will retain that title. In Scotland, the couple will be known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay. The throne automatically passed to Charles when his mother died at Balmoral on Thursday, aged 96, after a 70-year reign. The succession meant that he became King Charles III, with his wife, Camilla, taking on the role of Queen Consort. Prince William’s son, Prince George, is now third in line. The total assets of the Duchy of Cornwall’s estate rose to more than £1.2bn earlier this year – an increase of almost £93m from 2021, its annual accounts show. As heir to the throne, the Prince of Wales is entitled to the Duchy’s earnings as his annual private income, which amounted to £23m in 2021/2022.
