HRH Camilla, Princess of Wales, while legally entitled to it, does not use this title. Instead she uses the title Duchess of Cornwall.^[1]

Princess of Wales is a courtesy title held by the wife of the Prince of Wales since the first "English" Prince of Wales in 1283. Due to the mortality rate and the fact that some Princes of Wales did not marry before ascending to the throne, there have in fact been only ten Princesses of Wales. The present Princess of Wales is Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who chooses not to use the title Princess of Wales, which for some people remains associated with her predecessor, Diana, Princess of Wales. Image File history File links Camilla,_Duchess_of_Cornwall. ... Image File history File links Camilla,_Duchess_of_Cornwall. ... Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla Rosemary; formerly Parker Bowles; née Shand, born 17 July 1947) is the second wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the thrones of the United Kingdom and the other 15 Commonwealth Realms. ... The current Tampon of Cornwall after her wedding to the Prince of Wales The Duchess of Cornwall is the title held by the wife of the Duke of Cornwall. ... A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used by children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. ... This article is about the title Prince of Wales. ... Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla Rosemary; formerly Parker Bowles; née Shand, born 17 July 1947) is the second wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the thrones of the United Kingdom and the other 15 Commonwealth Realms. ... Diana Spencer redirects here. ...

Princesses of Wales

The ten Princesses of Wales (and the dates the individuals held that title) are as follows:

1. Joan of Kent (held title 1361–1376) — became dowager princess when her husband, Edward, died as Prince of Wales.
2. Anne Neville (1470–1471) — through her marriage to Edward of Lancaster, though there is no record of her having used the title. She became queen consort when her second husband became King Richard III of England.
3. Catherine of Aragon (1501–1502) — became dowager princess when her first husband, Arthur, died as Prince.^[2] She became queen consort when she married Arthur's brother, King Henry VIII.
4. Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1714–1727) — became queen consort when George II ascended to the throne.
5. Augusta of Saxe-Gotha (1736–1751) — dowager when husband Frederick, Prince of Wales died.
6. Caroline of Brunswick (1795–1820) — became queen consort on the accession of her husband George IV
7. Alexandra of Denmark (1863–1901) — queen consort upon accession of husband Edward VII. The longest anyone has ever held the title (37 years, 10 months and 12 days).
8. Mary of Teck (1901–1910) — queen consort upon accession of husband George V
9. Lady Diana Spencer (1961–1996) — first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales. When Diana divorced The Prince of Wales in 1996, she lost the style of HRH and assumed the style of a divorced peeress, that is, her personal name immediately followed by her former title. Had Diana remarried, any use of the title Princess of Wales would have been lost permanently.^[3]
10. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (2005–present) — the second wife of Charles, Prince of Wales. Though legally Princess of Wales, Camilla is the first Princess of Wales whose husband earlier had another official consort known as Princess of Wales, and so chose to use the alternative Duchess of Cornwall as her principal title.^[4]

Several Princesses of Wales became queens consort. Those who did not generally took the title of "Dowager Princess of Wales" after the deaths of their husbands. (Following the annulment of Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Catherine officially reverted to her earlier title of Dowager Princess of Wales, as the widow of Henry's older brother, Arthur, Prince of Wales, because Henry did not wish to acknowledge that he had ever been legally married to her.) Joan, Countess of Kent, Princess of Wales (September 29, 1328 – August 7, 1385) is known to history as The Fair Maid of Kent, and was the wife and cousin of Edward, the Black Prince. ... Founding of the University of Pavia, Italy. ... // Events March – The treaty between England and France is extended until April of 1377. ... A dowager is a widow who holds a title or property, or Dower, derived from her deceased husband. ... Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, KG (15 June 1330 – 8 June 1376), popularly known as the Black Prince, was the eldest son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault, and father to King Richard II of England. ... Anne Neville (June 11, 1456–March 16, 1485) was Queen consort of King Richard III of England 1483-1485. ... Events May 15 - Charles VIII of Sweden who had served three terms as King of Sweden dies. ... This article is about the year 1471, not the BT caller ID service accessible by dialling 1-4-7-1. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Richard III (2 October 1452 – 22 August 1485) was King of England from 1483 until his death. ... Catherine of Aragon (16 December 1485 – 7 January 1536) (Castilian Infanta Catalina de Aragón y Castilla), was the Queen of England as the first wife of Henry VIII of England. ... 1501 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1502 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Arthur Tudor (19 September/20 September 1486– 2 April 1502) was the first son of King Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, and therefore, heir to the throne of England and Wales. ... Henry VIII redirects here. ... Margravine Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach (or Anspach) (Wilhelmina Charlotte Caroline) (1 March 1683 – 20 November 1737) as Queen Caroline was the queen consort of King George II of Great Britain 1727-1737. ... Battle of Gangut, by Maurice Baquoi, 1724-27. ... Events 1727 to 1800 - Lt. ... George II (George Augustus; 10 November 1683 – 25 October 1760) was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Hanover) and Archtreasurer and Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death. ... Augusta of Saxe-Gotha Augusta of Saxe-Gotha (November 30, 1719 – February 8, 1772) was Princess of Wales from May 8, 1736 to March 31, 1751. ... Events January 26 - Stanislaus I of Poland abdicates his throne. ... Events Adam Smith is appointed professor of logic at the University of Glasgow March 25 - For the last time, New Years Day is legally on March 25 in England and Wales. ... The Prince Frederick, Prince of Wales (Frederick Louis; 1 February 1707 – 31 March 1751) was a member of the British Royal Family, the eldest son of George II. He was born into the House of Hanover and, under the Act of Settlement passed by the English Parliament in 1701, Frederick... Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (later Queen Caroline; 17 May 1768 – 7 August 1821) was the queen consort of George IV of the United Kingdom from 29 January 1820 to her death. ... 1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1820 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... George IV redirects here. ... This page is about the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom. ... Year 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death on 6 May 1910. ... Mary of Teck (Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes; 26 May 1867 – 24 March 1953) was the Queen Consort of George V. Queen Mary was also the Empress of India. ... Year 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor, which he created from the British branch of the German House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. ... Diana Spencer redirects here. ... Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... “Prince Charles” redirects here. ... Royal Highness (abbreviation HRH) is a style (His Royal Highness or Her Royal Highness); plural Royal Highnesses (abbreviation TRH, Their Royal Highnesses). ... Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla Rosemary; formerly Parker Bowles; née Shand, born 17 July 1947) is the second wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the thrones of the United Kingdom and the other 15 Commonwealth Realms. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Arthur Tudor (19 September/20 September 1486– 2 April 1502) was the first son of King Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, and therefore, heir to the throne of England and Wales. ...

Under the form of male-preference primogeniture in use in the United Kingdom, it is very unusual for a woman to be heiress apparent, since it is always theoretically possible for a reigning monarch to have a son to displace a daughter; she is almost always heiress presumptive. The only exception to this would be if a monarch's heir apparent were to have only female children and then the said heir apparent were to die; the eldest (female) child would then be heiress apparent. Primogeniture is the common law right of the first born son to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings. ... Contrasting with heir presumptive, an heir apparent is one who cannot be prevented from inheriting by the birth of any other person. ... An Heir Presumptive (capitalised) is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honor, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an Heir Apparent or of a new Heir Presumptive with a better claim to the throne. ...

In reality, there are times when it is perfectly obvious to all that an heiress presumptive will in due course inherit the throne (most obviously the youth of the present Queen Elizabeth); but none of these has ever been created "Princess of Wales". An Heir Presumptive (capitalised) is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honor, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an Heir Apparent or of a new Heir Presumptive with a better claim to the throne. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ...

Princess of Wales is not a princess in her own right

Mary of Teck, the 8th Princess of Wales
As a Princess of Teck as of right, Mary was the last actual princess in her own right to be Princess of Wales.

Contrary to widespread belief, the Princess of Wales is not a princess in her own right. While some past princesses, for example Catherine of Aragon and Alexandra of Denmark, were called Princess Catherine and Princess Alexandra, that was because they were already princesses (of Spain and Denmark respectively) when they married. Though Diana, Princess of Wales was commonly called Princess Diana after her marriage to Charles, Prince of Wales, it was officially incorrect, as Diana herself pointed out, because she was not a princess in her own right. Similarly Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, is not Princess Camilla. Image File history File links Maryofteck. ... Image File history File links Maryofteck. ... Teck is a ducal castle in the kingdom of Württemberg, immediately to the N. of the Swabian Jura and S. of the town of Kirchheim, crowning a ridge (2544 ft. ... For other uses, see Princess (disambiguation). ... “Prince Charles” redirects here. ...

When a title was sought for the future Queen Elizabeth II, the possibility of investing her as Princess of Wales in her own right was raised. This suggestion was rejected, because Princess of Wales is a courtesy title held by the wife of the Prince of Wales. If it were used by Princess Elizabeth, it would have degraded her right as a Princess of the United Kingdom unless Letters Patent or Legislation were introduced to the contrary. Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... Letters Patent by Queen Victoria creating the office of Governor-General of Australia Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of an open letter issued by a monarch or government granting an office, a right, monopoly, title, or status to someone or some entity such as... Legislation (or statutory law) is law which has been promulgated (or enacted) by a legislature or other governing body. ...

Other Titles of the Princesses of Wales

A Princess of Wales, by virtue of her marriage to the Prince of Wales, also takes all of the Prince's subsidiary titles. Thus a Princess of Wales is also:

• Duchess of Cornwall
• Duchess of Rothesay (by which title she is known in Scotland)
• Countess of Chester
• Countess of Carrick
• Baroness of Renfrew
• Princess of Scotland

Of all these titles usually only Princess of Wales has been used officially, a princess being of a higher rank than the peerage titles. However, as noted with the example of the current Princess of Wales, Camilla, a subsidiary title may just as easily and legally be used. For example, when Diana, Princess of Wales opened a new section of Chester Zoo in 1984 she was referred to as "HRH The Princess of Wales, Countess of Chester". The current Tampon of Cornwall after her wedding to the Prince of Wales The Duchess of Cornwall is the title held by the wife of the Duke of Cornwall. ... Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla Rosemary; formerly Parker Bowles; née Shand, born 17 July 1947) is the second wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the thrones of the United Kingdom and the other 15 Commonwealth Realms. ... Diana Spencer redirects here. ... Chester Zoo is a Zoological Garden located in the North of England. ...

In some cases the heir to the throne had yet to be created Prince of Wales, so his wife was referred to as Duchess of Cornwall until then. Mary of Teck was known as The Duchess of York after her 1893 marriage to Prince George (then Duke of York, later George V), and was known as The Duchess of Cornwall and York from January of 1901 (the death of Queen Victoria and the ascension of Edward VII) to November of 1901 (when George was created Prince of Wales). Mary of Teck (Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes; 26 May 1867 – 24 March 1953) was the Queen Consort of George V. Queen Mary was also the Empress of India. ... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor, which he created from the British branch of the German House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. ... Queen Victoria redirects here. ... Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death on 6 May 1910. ...

The Princess is known as Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, as the Prince of Wales is known as Duke of Rothesay there, the dukedom being the title historically associated with the heir to the Scottish throne.

Welsh "princesses" of Wales

Pre-Conquest princesses, such as Gwenllian of Wales, are sometimes referred to as Princess of Wales, but did not hold this title in the English legal sense. There are a handful of others who might have claimed the title, as a result of marriage to native princes who took, were given or aspired to the title of "Prince of Wales". These include: Gwenllian ferch Llywelyn (circa June 12, 1282-June 7, 1337) was the only known child of Llywelyn the Last. ...

• Joan, Lady of Wales
• Eleanor de Montfort
• Elizabeth Ferrers
• Margaret Hanmer

Joan, Lady of Wales, or Joan of England (died March 1236) was the wife of Llywelyn the Great, Prince of Gwynedd and effective ruler of most of Wales. ... Eleanor de Montfort (1252–June 1282) was the only daughter of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, and became the last princess of Wales before the English Conquest in 1283. ... Elizabeth Ferrers (c. ... Margaret Hanmer (c. ...

Notes

The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor and in former times Chancellor of England, is one of the most senior and important functionaries in the government of the United Kingdom. ... Henry VIII redirects here. ... The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor and prior to the Union the Chancellor of England and the Lord Chancellor of Scotland, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom, and its predecessor states. ... A statute is a formal, written law of a country or state, written and enacted by its legislative authority, perhaps to then be ratified by the highest executive in the government, and finally published. ... An Order-in-Council is an executive order issued in Commonwealth Realms operating under the Westminster system. ... A princess consort is the female equivalent to a prince consort. ...

Bibliography

• Princesses of Wales by Deborah Fisher. University of Wales Press, 2005.
• 'Tystiolaeth Garth Celyn' Y Traethodydd 1998 ISSN 0969 8930