Kate Middleton's secret 'reservations' over taking on Princess of Wales title laid bare in new book
Princess Diana held the title of Princess of Wales untill her death in 1997
Kate Middleton reportedly had private “reservations” about becoming the Princess of Wales, as a new royal biography claims she was deeply conscious of the emotional weight attached to the title once held by Princess Diana.
In William and Catherine: The Monarchy’s New Era: The Inside Story, author Russell Myers explores the shift within the royal family following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
When the queen died, her eldest son King Charles became monarch.
Meanwhile, the queen’s grandson Prince William became heir to the throne. Meanwhile, his wife Kate assumed one of the most iconic titles in modern royal history.
Kate Middleton’s ‘reservations’ about taking on Princess of Wales title
In his first speech as monarch, King Charles announced the change.
“Today, I am proud to create [Prince William] Prince of Wales,” he declared. “With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations.”
In his upcoming book, Myers claims that the transition was not entirely straightforward for Kate behind the scenes.
“Courtiers said that while Catherine had a full appreciation of the history associated with the role, she was determined to find her own path,” he writes, as reported by PEOPLE.
According to the book, Kate had privately expressed “reservations” to both William and Charles about taking on the title. At the time, the Princess of Wales title was still closely linked in the public imagination to the late Princess Diana.
Myers explains that Kate was “conscious of the British public’s exceptional feeling for, and connection to, Princess Diana even 25 years after her death”.
A former senior aide to the couple reportedly tells the author that her hesitation was telling.
“This tells you how considered she is,” the aide notes.
“She is benevolent with her intentions. But also wishes to carve out her own role for both herself and her family.”
The aide adds that there was “a bit of convincing” involved before Kate fully embraced the title. However, she ultimately felt able to honour Diana’s legacy while shaping the role in her own way.
They say: “She could manage it in her own way while having full respect for the way Diana carved out a very different role for herself within the royal family.”
Royal Insider has contacted reps for Kensington Palace for comment.
Princess of Wales title
The sensitivity surrounding the title is well documented.
When Charles married Queen Camilla in 2005, she chose to be styled Duchess of Cornwall rather than Princess of Wales, out of respect for Diana’s legacy.
When William and Kate formally became the Prince and Princess of Wales, a royal source told PEOPLE the couple were 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,” the source said.
Meanwhile, Kate has often paid tribute to Diana in subtle ways, most notably by wearing her sapphire engagement ring.
She has also spoken warmly about Diana’s memory. Kate described her as someone who would have been a “brilliant” grandmother to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
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