Princess Kate privately voiced reservations about assuming the Princess of Wales title because of its strong ties to the late Princess Diana, according to a new royal biography.
Title succession and private concerns
Kate inherited the title in 2022 after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, when her husband Prince William became Prince of Wales. The Mirror's royal editor Russell Myers, author of William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, reveals that Kate expressed her concerns to both William and King Charles.
Myers writes: "Courtiers said that while Catherine had a full appreciation of the history associated with the role, she was determined to find her own path. But Catherine had also privately expressed to William and to Charles her reservations about taking over the title, conscious of the British public's exceptional feeling for, and connection to, Princess Diana even 25 years after her death."
Royal aides on Kate's approach
A former senior aide to William and Kate tells Myers: "This tells you how considered she is," adding: "She is benevolent with her intentions, but also wishes to carve out her own role for both herself and her family, which in many ways looks very different to how generations of royals have acted in the past."
The ex-staffer continued: "She is very aware the pace that she wants to progress and the way in which she sees her future role within the institution, and I think when she was convinced to take the title on, and there was a bit of convincing, she felt that while there would be inevitable comparisons with Diana, 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."
King Charles's announcement and royal response
In his inaugural address as monarch, King Charles declared: "Today, I am proud to create him 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. 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."
When the couple assumed their titles, a royal insider said they were focused on "deepening the trust and respect of the people of Wales over time," adding: "The Prince and Princess of Wales will approach their roles in the modest and humble way they've approached their work previously."
The biography charts William and Kate's journey from their first encounters at St Andrews University to the present day, exploring their vision for a contemporary monarchy during a period of profound change.
