Kate Middleton Has a Historic Royal Title No One Else Has Ever Held — and She Has Charles to Thank
In September 2022, Kate Middleton received one of her greatest honors when she became the Princess of Wales, following King Charles’s ascension to the throne after Queen Elizabeth’s death. While she will one day be known as Queen Consort, a title reflecting her non-royal roots, it’s unlikely to faze her. After all, one of her royal titles, bestowed by the King, has never been held by anyone else. In April 2024, on St. George’s Day, Middleton made history when she was appointed a Royal Companion of the Order of the Garter of the Companions of Honor.
Middleton was honored by the monarch with the special title just over 18 months after she officially became the Princess of Wales. As reported by the Royal Insider, she made history as the first royal member to be appointed to the Companions of Honor. Founded by King George V, Charles’s great-grandfather, the Order recognizes individuals' outstanding contributions in fields such as the arts, science, medicine, and public service. Although there are 65 members in total, Middleton is the first royal ever to be named as a Royal Companion. Her appointment was seen as a powerful show of support from Charles, since they went public with their cancer diagnosis that same year, within weeks of each other.
Middleton’s title change came as no surprise, given her long-standing dedication to the arts. She is an esteemed patron of the National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Photographic Society, and the V&A. Following in his wife’s footsteps, Prince William was also granted a new title by his father. He was appointed Great Master of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, a role Charles once held himself before passing it on after his accession to the throne. Meanwhile, Queen Camilla was named Grand Master and First or Principal Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire, a title previously held by the late Prince Philip.
Middleton also holds several other prestigious titles as the future Queen. She is the Duchess of Cornwall (a title once held by Camilla), the Countess of Chester, and the Duchess of Rothesay while in Scotland. In Northern Ireland, she is known as the Countess of Carrick and Baroness of Renfrew, and she is also titled Lady of the Isles. Following Charles's ascension, the Princess of Wales also received multiple military appointments. She now serves as Colonel of the Irish Guards, Colonel-in-Chief of the 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards, Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, and Royal Honorary Air Commodore of both RAF Coningsby and the Air Cadets.
As for her future Queen Consort title, according to PEOPLE, Middleton cannot become a Queen regnant, a monarch who rules in her own right like the late Queen Elizabeth, because she was not born into the royal bloodline. Currently, Camilla holds the same title as the spouse of the King.