Prince William and Kate Middleton are not known by their usual royal titles as the Prince and Princess of Wales when they travel to Scotland.
They are instead referred to by another name when they are in the country for any royal engagements – the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay – but there is a very interesting reason why.
The Duke of Rothesay has been the traditional title for the male heir to the Scottish throne since 1469, making his wife the Duchess of Rothesay.
William’s father, King Charles, announced that he had conferred the Rothesay dukedom onto his eldest son in his first speech as monarch on September 9, 2022 following the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Addressing Britain for the first time as sovereign, he said: “As my heir, William now assumes the Scottish titles which have meant so much to me.”
William also took on a series of other new titles as well as increased royal responsibilities after Charles ascended the throne.
The prince’s main and arguably his most important title is now the Prince of Wales, which is the traditional title for the male heir apparent to the English throne since around 1301.
Charles’ previously made history as the longest standing Prince of Wales for over six decades while his mother Queen Elizabeth reigned Britain for over 70 years before he passed the title onto William.
Kate Middleton subsequently became the Princess of Wales, a title that has not been bestowed upon any royal since the death of William’s mother and Charles’ former wife, Princess Diana, in 1997.
However, that was not the only prestigious title William received as he was also given a whole range of new Scottish titles including the Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland as the eldest son of the King.
The 42-year-old has previously spoken of his deep connection to Scotland, revealing it to be “the source of some of my happiest memories but also my saddest”.
William was previously a student at St Andrew’s University where he famously met future wife Kate and also spent many a summer with the Royal Family at their beloved Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire.
However, in August of 1997, a then 15-year-old William learned the news his mother Diana had been killed in a tragic car crash in Paris during his summer holidays at Balmoral.
The dad-of-three has previously reflected on his memories from that day, saying: “In short, Scotland is the source of some of my happiest memories. But also, my saddest.
“I was in Balmoral when I was told that my mother had died. Still in shock, I found sanctuary in the service at Crathie Kirk that very morning. And in the dark days of grief that followed, I found comfort and solace in the Scottish outdoors.
“As a result, the connection I feel to Scotland will forever run deep.”
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