Princess Charlotte is said to be at the center of fresh discussions about her future status within the British monarchy.
According to reports, King Charles wants to reserve the title of Duchess of Edinburgh for Prince William’s eldest daughter. The designation is currently held by Prince Edward’s wife, Sophie Rhys-Jones.
Meanwhile, the same reports suggest that Charlotte’s younger brother, Prince Louis, may miss out on a traditional royal title usually associated with a monarch’s second son when William eventually ascends the throne.
Princess Charlotte Linked To Prestigious New Royal Title
Charlotte has been linked to a prestigious new royal title as discussions about her future role within the monarchy continue, shortly after she turned 11.
As the only daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales and the sister of a future king, Charlotte holds a unique place in the line of succession. Royal experts have now suggested that another title may already be under consideration for her adulthood.
“I was told the King wanted to reserve the Duchess of Edinburgh role for her, which could happen,” royal author Robert Hardman told Hello!
“Edward, when he dies, will lose that title. It won’t go to his son,” he continued. “But I think she’ll be the Princess Royal, as Anne is. There’s no better model.”
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh titles are currently held by Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie. However, Edward’s dukedom was granted on the understanding that it would revert to the Crown upon his death rather than pass to his son. That arrangement could leave the door open for Charlotte to one day hold the prestigious Duchess title in her own right as a senior working royal.
Charlotte’s Princess Royal Path Depends On Anne
The more traditional path for the 11-year-old is the historic title of The Princess Royal, which is usually bestowed on the eldest daughter of the reigning monarch.
However, the title currently belongs to Princess Anne, who holds it for life. That means Charlotte cannot become Princess Royal immediately when her father becomes king if Anne is still alive.
Because the title is held for life and is not hereditary, it also cannot be passed down to Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall. Instead, once the title eventually reverts to the Crown and Prince William is king, Charlotte would be considered the natural successor, although it would still need to be formally bestowed.
Anne has held the title since 1987, when she was 36. Due to her decades of royal service, Hardman believes she is the strongest possible model for Charlotte’s future role.
How Charlotte’s Future Role Mirrors Princess Anne’s
Anne and Charlotte have a lot in common, particularly because both grew up as the sisters of future kings. Charlotte’s close bond with Prince George is also believed to mirror the relationship Anne shared with King Charles when they were younger.
Former royal nanny Mabel Anderson once claimed that Anne had a “much stronger, more extroverted personality” compared to her brother, a dynamic that appears similar to the one often observed between Charlotte and George.
Charles is also believed to be so close to Anne that he requested she and Prince Edward become additional counselors of state. The honor is traditionally reserved for the first four royals in the line of succession and the monarch’s spouse.
Prince Louis’s Expected Royal Title Could Be Shelved
Regardless of which peerage she eventually receives, Charlotte is already set for a major title change when William becomes King, or if any royal currently holding one of the titles linked to her dies.
Meanwhile, her younger brother, Louis, may not receive the traditional title often associated with his position when William ascends the throne.
The direct heir usually becomes the Prince of Wales, while the eldest daughter may become Princess Royal. The second son would traditionally be linked to the Duke of York title, but Louis may be denied that honor.
Speaking on an April episode of the “Catching Up With the Royals” podcast, commentator Emily Andrews suggested that the Dukedom of York may be “on ice” for decades.
“From what I’ve been told, I think that title will be on ice for at least one or two generations,” she said, per Woman and Home magazine.
William Reportedly Wants Louis Clear Of Andrew’s Shadow
The reason for the alleged freezing of the Dukedom of York is that the title was, until last year, occupied by former Prince Andrew. The disgraced royal was stripped of it, along with other titles, over his controversial ties to Jeffrey Epstein, although he has denied any wrongdoing.
Andrew was made Duke of York by Queen Elizabeth in 1986, and the title remains strongly associated with him. The controversies and negative headlines surrounding Andrew may be why William would prefer Louis to receive a different title instead.
Other vacant dukedoms that have been suggested for Louis include the Dukedom of Clarence and the Dukedom of Windsor. However, the latter also comes with some baggage, as it was the title given to former King Edward VIII after he abdicated the throne and married American divorcee Wallis Simpson.