Princess of Wales
| Princess of Wales | |
|---|---|
| Style | Her Royal Highness Ma'am |
| Term length | As long as married to the Prince of Wales |
| Inaugural holder | Joan of Kent |
| Website | www.princeofwales.gov.uk |
Princess of Wales (Welsh: Tywysoges Cymru) is a British courtesy title held by the wife of the Prince of Wales, who is, since the 14th century, the heir apparent of the English or British monarch. The first acknowledged title holder was Eleanor de Montfort, wife of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. It has subsequently been used by wives of post-conquest princes of Wales.
The title is currently held by Camilla (the former Camilla Parker Bowles), second wife of Charles, Prince of Wales since her marriage on 9 April 2005. She does not, however, use the title, as it has remained strongly associated with the previous holder, Diana. Instead, she uses the title Duchess of Cornwall.
The Princess of Wales is not a princess in her own right. There have been some Princesses of Wales who were addressed as such; for example, Catherine of Aragon, Alexandra of Denmark, and Mary of Teck were called "Princess Catherine", "Princess Alexandra", and "Princess Victoria Mary" respectively. However, that was because they were already princesses of their ancestral countries when they married: Catherine was a Princess of Aragon (the component kingdom of Spain ruled by her father Ferdinand), and also of Castile (of which her mother Isabella was queen); Alexandra was Princess of Denmark; and Mary was a Princess of Teck because her father was Duke of Teck. Diana, Princess of Wales was commonly called "Princess Diana" following her marriage to Charles, Prince of Wales, but - as Diana herself pointed out - this was incorrect because she was not a princess in her own right.
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Wikipedia