Kate Middleton and the Royal Family's full names revealed ahead of Royal Baby name announcement

  • Kate Middleton's official titles change depending on where in the UK she is 
  • Prince Charles has as many as sixteen official titles including the Prince of Wales 
  • Prince Henry of Wales has been called Prince Harry since childhood

Following the coverage of Kate Middleton and the Royal Baby, questions arose about why people still refer to the Duchess of Cambridge by her given name rather than her official title.

While we now know why, the Duchess of Cambridge isn’t even Kate Middleton’s only official title.

In fact, most members of the Royal Family have many official titles that vary depending on where in the United Kingdom they are.

Here is the breakdown of Kate Middleton’s official titles, the names Prince William and other Royal Family members go by and the new Royal Baby’s title.

Kate Middleton gave birth to her third child on Monday, April 23 in St Mary's Hospital in London

Kate Middleton gave birth to her third child on Monday, April 23 in St Mary's Hospital in London

Kate Middleton

Catherine Elizabeth Middleton went by Kate Middleton right up until April 29, 2011, when she married Prince William. On that day, her official name became Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, or Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cambridge.

However, when Kate Middleton visits Scotland, she is referred to as Her Royal Highness, the Countess of Strathearn. In Northern Ireland, Kate becomes Lady Carrickfergus.

The one thing Kate Middleton officially isn’t is ‘Princess Kate’ or ‘Princess Catherine’, just as Princess Diana wasn’t, because to be a princess one has to be born into the Royal Family. 

However, for various reasons including popular misconceptions about the title being passed through a marriage to a Prince, many outlets still refer to Kate Middleton as Princess Kate.

It doesn’t help matters when Kate can be officially referred to as Princess William of Wales, which would have actually been her only title had the Duchess of Cambridge not been selected.

Prince William

Just like Kate, Prince William Arthur Philip Louis becomes the Baron of Carrickfergus and the Earl of Strathearn in Northern Ireland and Scotland respectively.

As well as being the Duke of Cambridge, Wills - as he is also affectionately known - holds the Royal Orders of Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble of the Garter (KG) and Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle (KT).

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Prince Henry Charles Albert David has been called Harry since childhood, given his preference for the nickname. 

His official title is His Royal Highness, Prince Henry of Wales, but many Royal commentators believe Prince Harry will become the Duke of Sussex when he marries Meghan Markle, meaning the Suits actress will become the Duchess of Sussex. 

There is also talk of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle taking the Scottish titles of Earl and Countess of Ross after the Royal Wedding.

The Queen

Her Majesty The Queen, known by her full name as Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, is usually referred to simply as The Queen or Queen Elizabeth II.

However, her full official title is: Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other realms and territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.

Prince Charles

Prince Charles has a few titles, as many as 16 in fact, including: The Prince of Wales, Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. 

Prince Philip

After Prince Philip of Greece became a naturalised citizen of the United Kingdom, he assumed the name Philip Mountbatten-Windsor and became the Duke of Edinburgh.

However, his lengthy title is: His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, Baron Greenwich, Royal Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Member of the Order of Merit, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Grand Master and First and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Knight of the Order of Australia, Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte

Prince George’s birth certificate has the little prince’s official name down as His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge.

Meanwhile, Princess Charlotte’s full name is Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge. 

The Royal Baby’s name

After the new Royal Baby was born and Kate and Will showed the new prince to the whole world on Monday, April 23, people began predicting what the parents, who have ‘thrice the worry now’, would call the newborn boy.

As Prince William loaded the new Royal Baby into the car, he told the expectant crowd: ‘You’ll find out soon!’.

Royalists and bookies have whittled down a list of names with the highest odds to: Arthur, James, Alexander, Albert, Philip, Henry, Edward, Frederick and Louis.

That didn’t stop Prince William from joking with Sir Jerry Mateparae, New Zealand High Commissioner to the UK in Westminster Abbey and the Dean of Westminster that ‘Jerry’s a strong name’.   

Whatever the new Royal Baby’s name, the young prince’s official title will still end with His Royal Highness [Name] of Cambridge.

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