What happens to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis’ titles when William becomes king?

Prince George is only 13, but his future place at the heart of the British monarchy has already been mapped out by centuries of royal tradition.

The young royal is currently second in line to the throne behind his father, Prince William. And when William eventually becomes king, George is expected to undergo one of the most significant title changes in the Royal Family.

If tradition holds, George could eventually become Prince of Wales, the prestigious title currently held by his father and previously held for decades by his grandfather, King Charles III.

However, unlike the throne itself, the title isn’t automatically inherited.

Prince George won’t automatically become Prince of Wales

When Prince William becomes king, George will immediately become heir apparent. But that doesn’t automatically make him Prince of Wales.

The historic title must be specifically granted by the reigning monarch.

“There is no automatic succession to the title,” the Royal Family explains, noting that the heir apparent must be formally created Prince of Wales by the sovereign.

King Charles moved quickly after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. Just one day after becoming king, Charles announced that William would become the new Prince of Wales.

William could eventually choose to follow his father’s example and bestow the title on George soon after his own accession, although there is no requirement dictating when he would have to do so.

One prestigious title George will receive automatically

While Prince of Wales requires his father’s approval, another historic title would come to George automatically. The Duchy of Cornwall confirms that when William becomes king, George will become Duke of Cornwall.

The title dates back to 1337, when Edward III established the Duchy of Cornwall to provide an independent income for the heir to the throne. Its charter stipulates that the Duke of Cornwall is the sovereign’s eldest surviving son who is also heir to the throne.

George would also take on the traditional Scottish titles associated with the heir, including Duke of Rothesay.

The change would come with considerable financial responsibilities. The Duchy of Cornwall is a private estate consisting of land, property and investments, with its annual surplus providing income for the Duke of Cornwall.

The estate currently supports William’s public, charitable and private activities. George would eventually assume the same position as its beneficiary when he becomes Duke of Cornwall.

What happens to the Duke of Cambridge title?

George should not expect to become Duke of Cambridge when his father becomes king. William was granted the Duke of Cambridge title by Queen Elizabeth II on the morning of his 2011 wedding to Kate Middleton.

When William eventually ascends the throne, his peerage titles, including the Dukedom of Cambridge, will merge with the Crown rather than pass down to George.

That would leave the monarch free to grant the title again at some point in the future.

Could Princess Charlotte become Princess Royal?

George isn’t the only Wales sibling whose title could eventually change.

Princess Charlotte could one day become Princess Royal, a distinction traditionally bestowed on the monarch’s eldest daughter.

The title is currently held by Princess Anne, who received it from Queen Elizabeth II in 1987. It is held for life, meaning Charlotte cannot become Princess Royal while Anne is still living.

Even after the title becomes available, however, Charlotte would not receive it automatically when William becomes king. The monarch would have to formally grant it to her.

There can also be long gaps between Princess Royals. Anne, for example, was Queen Elizabeth II’s only daughter but didn’t receive the title until she was 36.

And what about Prince Louis?

Prince Louis’ future title is much less predictable.

Royal dukedoms have traditionally been granted to senior male members of the Royal Family, often around the time of their marriages, but there is no automatic title reserved for William’s younger son.

Louis could therefore be granted a dukedom by a future monarch, but exactly which one would be entirely speculative.

The Duke of York title has historically been associated with the monarch’s second son, but its future use cannot be predicted. It is currently held by Prince Andrew and, like other royal dukedoms, cannot simply be assumed to be Louis’ eventual title.

Could Charlotte ever become Princess of Wales?

Despite being William’s only daughter, Charlotte would not become Princess of Wales simply because her father becomes king.

The title is not the female equivalent of Prince of Wales for a monarch’s daughter.

Historically, Princess of Wales has been the title of the wife of the Prince of Wales. Camilla, for example, legally became Princess of Wales when she married then-Prince Charles in 2005, although she chose to use Duchess of Cornwall instead.

That means if George is eventually created Prince of Wales and is married at the time, his wife would ordinarily become Princess of Wales.

For George, Charlotte and Louis, their father’s eventual accession will therefore mark a major transformation in their royal lives. But while some titles are dictated by centuries-old rules, others will depend entirely on the decisions made by the future King William.