Princess of Wales

Princess of Wales is a courtesy title possessed automatically by the wife of the Prince of Wales since the first "English" Prince of Wales in 1282. Because of the mortality rate, combined with the fact that some Princes of Wales did not marry until after coming to the throne, there have in fact been only nine holders of the title since that date.

Related Topics:
Courtesy title - Prince of Wales

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This official list does not include Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (2005 - ). Camilla does hold the title of Princess of Wales and has been entitled to call herself so since her marriage to Prince Charles. However, it was decided that she would be styled and known instead as HRH The Duchess of Cornwall thus taking one of her husband's subsidiary titles. Therefore technically although there is a current holder of the title, it is never used nor referred to, and as such exists by law only - Camilla is officially The Duchess of Cornwall everywhere.

Related Topics:
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall - 2005 - Prince Charles - HRH - The Duchess of Cornwall - Subsidiary title

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The nine official Princesses of Wales are as follows:

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:Joan of Kent (held title 1361 - 1376)

Related Topics:
Joan of Kent - 1361 - 1376

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:Anne Neville (1470 - 1471) (but marriage possibly not solemnised)

Related Topics:
Anne Neville - 1470 - 1471

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:Catherine of Aragon (1501-1502)

Related Topics:
Catherine of Aragon - 1501 - 1502

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:Caroline of Ansbach (1714 - 1727)

Related Topics:
Caroline of Ansbach - 1714 - 1727

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:Augusta of Saxe-Gotha (1736 - 1751)

Related Topics:
Augusta of Saxe-Gotha - 1736 - 1751

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:Caroline of Brunswick (1795 - 1820)

Related Topics:
Caroline of Brunswick - 1795 - 1820

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:Alexandra of Denmark (1863 - 1901)

Related Topics:
Alexandra of Denmark - 1863 - 1901

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:Mary of Teck (1901 - 1910)

Related Topics:
Mary of Teck - 1901 - 1910

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:Diana Spencer (1981 - 1997)

Related Topics:
Diana Spencer - 1981 - 1997

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Several of these came to be 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.)

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Under the form of male-preference primogeniture in use in the UK, it is impossible for a woman ever to be heir apparent, since it is always theoretically possible for a reigning monarch to have a son. In the real world, of course, 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 Elizabeth II); but none of these has ever been created "Princess of Wales".

Related Topics:
Primogeniture - Heir apparent - Heiress presumptive - Elizabeth II

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