The title of Prince of Wales, as the current monarch of the United Kingdom was known for 50 years, now belongs to Carlos and Diana’s eldest son: William.

He and his wife Catalina received the honorary title on September 9, 2022, after Queen Elizabeth’s death, when succession began.

England’s Prince William, Prince of Wales, kisses his father, Britain’s King Charles III, who wears the Crown of St. Edward, during the King’s coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey in central London on May 6, 2023. Photo: AFP

With a kiss on the cheek after the coronation ceremony, this Saturday at Westminster Abbey, the heir to the throne William pledged allegiance as Prince of Wales to his father.

The decision to name William was made by King Charles after he inherited the throne.

In this archive photo, taken on July 1, 1969, Queen Elizabeth II places a crown on her son, Prince Charles, during his investiture as the new Prince of Wales at Caernarfon. Photo: — –

In 1969, at the age of 20, Carlos was invested by his mother as Prince of Wales, the title traditionally borne by heirs to the throne.

Diana, who received it in her marriage to Carlos in 1981, retained the title of Princess of Wales despite their divorce.

This title was established by King Edward I (1239-1307) in 1301 and granted to his son, the future Edward II, at Caernarfon Castle, after England annexed Wales through the Rhuddlan Charter.

Before the five decades that the title belonged to Carlos, The Prince of Wales was King Edward VIII, who went down in history as the Duke of Windsor and protagonist of a short reign he gave up because of his love for Wallis Simpson.

That resignation placed Prince Charles’s grandfather, Prince William’s great-grandfather, on the throne (until then King George VI had been the Duke of York, as befits the monarch’s second son) and made Elizabeth II Crown Princess, but not to Princess of Wales. as this title is reserved for men.

Current Princes of Wales

The current Princes of Wales William and Catherine, along with two of their children. The heir Jorge was a page of his grandfather King Carlos III’s cape during the coronation ceremony. Photo: — ANDREW MILLIGAN

Guillermo and Catalina hold the title of Princes of Wales, but other previous titles must be added to that. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Prince William is also the Duke of Cornwall and Cambridge. In Scotland: he is the Duke of Rothesay.

Prince George of Wales (L), one of the four Pages of Honor and second in line to the British throne, arrives at Westminster Abbey in central London on May 6, 2023. Photo: — ANDREW MILLIGAN
Britain’s Prince Louis of Wales and Britain’s Princess Charlotte of Wales arrive at Westminster Abbey in central London on May 6, 2023 ahead of the coronation of Britain’s King Charles III and Camilla. Photo: — ANDREW MILLIGAN

Catalina and Guillermo’s family also includes their children Jorge, Carlota and Luis, who also attended the coronation ceremony of their grandfather Carlos III this morning.