Kate Middleton’s Birth Certificate Confusion

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, has caused a stir after being listed as a princess on Prince Louis' birth certificate.

While she is the wife of Prince William, she is not a princess, strictly speaking.

This confusion has happened before on Prince George and Princess Charlotte's birth certificates.

So why doesn't Prince Louis' birth certificate say otherwise?

Kate's official title is Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

She is not Princess Catherine or Princess Kate, but this rule only applies to her title.

When she married Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, she became Princess William of Cambridge.

If Prince Charles ascends the throne and Prince William officially becomes HRH Prince of Wales, Kate will be entitled to become HRH Princess of Wales.

However, it is unlikely she will choose this title given its close links to William and Prince Harry's late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

While Kate may be within her rights to have “Princess” in her name, it is not her title, which can only be honored to those who are royal by birth.

When Prince William ascends the throne, Kate will become queen consort.

As queen consort, she will share William's social status, although not his military or political powers.

King George VI's wife and the queen mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, was a queen consort.

A queen consort can take the title of queen.

When Prince Charles ascends the throne, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will become Queen Camilla.

On their wedding day, Clarence House revealed that when Charles becomes king, presuming he will not abdicate, Camilla will become known as Princess Consort.

Traditionally, as dictated by English common law, the wife of the ruling monarch is called Queen Consort.

There is no historical or legal reason why Camilla would be known as Princess Consort, and this year, Clarence House removed the statement dictating this, suggesting she will, after all, be known as Queen Consort.

Likewise, when Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, eventually becomes king, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, will become Queen Catherine.

Kate's official title is a duchess, but her name can include “Princess” if she chooses.

However, it is not her title, which can only be given to those who are royal by birth.