Princess Catherine privately voiced concerns about taking on the title of Princess of Wales in 2022, fearing comparisons to Princess Diana, according to a new biography by royal editor Russell Myers.
Reservations about the title
The Princess of Wales inherited the title after the death of Queen Elizabeth, when her husband Prince William became Prince of Wales. Myers claims Catherine expressed her reservations to both William and King Charles, mindful of the public's enduring affection for Diana, even 25 years after her death.
Myers wrote: "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."
Carving her own path
A former senior aide told Myers: "This tells you how considered she is. 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 aide added: "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
In his inaugural address, King Charles confirmed the couple would assume the Wales titles, saying: "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."
