Kate Middleton “privately expressed” reluctance to take on the Princess of Wales title that was closely associated with the late Princess Diana<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Russell Myers explores the discussons in his new biography, William and Catherine, The Monarchy\u2019s New Era: The Inside Story<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
A former senior aide to William and Kate tells the author, “This tells you how considered she is”<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Kate Middleton<\/a>\u00a0had mixed feelings about taking on her title as the Princess of Wales, a royal styling that was closely associated with her late mother-in-law,\u00a0Princess Diana<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the new biography\u00a0William and Catherine, The Monarchy\u2019s New Era: The Inside Story<\/a>\u00a0(out March 10), author Russell Myers traces the couple’s journey, including the change to their royal roles following the 2022 death of Queen Elizabeth<\/a>, which made Prince William<\/a> the new heir.<\/p>\n King Charles<\/a>, 77, announced in his first speech as monarch<\/a> that William and Kate would be the new Prince and Princess of Wales: “Today, I am proud to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I have been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty. With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given.”<\/p>\n Although King Charles had discussed his plans with his son, now 43, and daughter-in-law, now 44, in the years leading up to his accession, Myers explains in his new book that Princess Kate was initially reluctant about taking on the title, as it had last belonged to Princess Diana. (When Charles married the future Queen Camilla<\/a> in 2005, his new wife opted to be known as the Duchess of Cornwall instead of the Princess of Wales out of deference to Diana.)<\/p>\n Max Mumby\/Indigo\/Getty<\/p>\n “Courtiers said that while Catherine had a full appreciation ofthe history associated with the role, she was determined to findher own path,” Myers writes. “But Catherine had also privately expressed to William and to Charles her reservations about taking over the title, conscious of the British public\u2019s exceptional feeling for, and connection to, Princess Diana even 25 years after her death.”<\/p>\n A former senior aide to William and Kate tells Myers, “This tells you how considered she is.”<\/p>\n “She is benevolent with her intentions, but also wishes to carve out her own role for both herself and her family, which in many ways looks very different to how generationsof royals have acted in the past,” the former aide adds. “She is very aware the pace that she wants to progress and the way in which she sees her future role within the institution, and I think when she was convinced to take the title on, and there was a bit of convincing, she felt that while there would be inevitable comparisons with Diana, she could manage it in her own way while having full respect for the way Diana carved out a very different role for herself within the royal family.”<\/p>\n Pegasus Books <\/p>\n When William and Kate took on their new titles, a royal source told PEOPLE the couple was focused on “deepening the trust and respect of the people of Wales over time.”<\/p>\n “The Prince and Princess of Wales will approach their roles in the modest and humble way they’ve approached their work previously,” the source said.<\/p>\n Princess Kate often honors Princess Diana through fashion, including the engagement ring she inherited from Prince William’s mother,\u00a0which fits her perfectly<\/a>.<\/p>\n “Same ring,” Kate said during a walkabout in Wales in 2023. “And exactly the same \u2014 the same size.”<\/p>\n Chris Jackson\/Getty<\/p>\n Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?\u00a0Sign up for our free Royals newsletter<\/a>\u00a0to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!<\/strong><\/p>\n The Princess of Wales added that she was “honored” to wear the jewelry and said Princess Diana would have been a “brilliant” grandmother to her and William’s three children,\u00a0Prince George<\/a>, 12,\u00a0Princess Charlotte<\/a>, 10, and\u00a0Prince Louis<\/a>, 7.<\/p>\n “We miss her every day,” the Princess of Wales said.<\/p>\n![\"Kate](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/17a1d44afa6fa090e9918394274fda9c.jpeg\"\/)
Kate Middleton, Prince William and King Charles in December 2024 <\/p>\n![\"William](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/72ca4bf0b22b0ef27fc2ebeb02120624.jpeg\"\/)
William and Catherine: The Monarchy’s New Era: The Inside Story by Russell Myers <\/p>\n![\"Kate](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/d3208b58b35ed18ceaf8d31e61baac26.jpeg\"\/)
Kate Middleton on Jan. 27, 2026 <\/p>\n