5 Things Princess Kate May Have to Give Up When William is King

Prince William is next in line to the throne, and when his day comes, Princess Kate’s life will change in more ways than just her title. Becoming queen means taking on a role with greater responsibilities, stricter royal protocol, and far less flexibility than she has as the Princess of Wales. From where she'll live to how she travels and carries out her public duties, here's a look at five things Kate is expected to give up when William becomes king.

Kate became the Princess of Wales shortly after Queen Elizabeth’s death in 2022, but that title will not stay with her forever. Once William becomes king, he will no longer be the Prince of Wales, meaning Kate will also lose her title. As the wife of the reigning monarch, she is expected to become Queen Consort and will most likely be publicly known as Queen Catherine, or simply The Queen, just as Queen Camilla is today.

As queen, Kate's overseas travel would become far less spontaneous. While personal holidays would still be possible, official trips abroad would be planned well in advance and coordinated with the UK government and the royal household. This is because royal visits as Queen are not just about representing the monarchy; they also serve a diplomatic purpose, with schedules, security, and transport carefully organized long before one steps on a plane.

Forest Lodge is where Kate and William are raising Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis away from busy central London. While the Windsor property is expected to remain the family's long-term base, their 'forever home,' becoming Queen would mean Kate spending much more time at Buckingham Palace, the monarch's official working headquarters. As her responsibilities grow, so would the number of state occasions, audiences, and public engagements that pull her away from the home where family life is centered. Traditionally, reigning monarchs have chosen to live at the Palace, a tradition King Charles broke when he picked Clarence House as his choice of stay.

Kate has spent years in the public eye, but becoming queen would bring a whole new level of attention. As the wife of the reigning monarch, even routine appearances and everyday moments would carry greater constitutional and symbolic weight. From her public engagements to her speeches and interactions, every move would be examined more closely as she takes on one of the most visible roles in the monarchy.

Kate was able to significantly reduce her public schedule during and after her cancer treatment, carrying out just 68 official engagements in 2025 as she eased back into royal life. She is still taking far fewer engagements than Charles and Camilla, focusing on being a hands-on parent to her children. Becoming queen would mean more responsibility. In 2025, Camilla undertook 228 engagements while Charles, despite continuing cancer treatment, carried out 535. As wife of the monarch, Kate would be expected to maintain a much fuller schedule, leaving far less flexibility to scale back her workload than she has today.