List of titles and honours of William, Prince of Wales

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William in 2021, when he was known as the Duke of Cambridge

William, Prince of Wales has received numerous titles, decorations and honorary appointments both during his time as Duke of Cambridge and Prince of Wales. Each is listed below; where two dates are shown, the former indicates the date of receiving the title or award (the title as Prince William of Wales being given as from his birth) and the latter indicates the date of its loss or renunciation.

Royal and noble titles and styles[edit]

Badge of the Prince of Wales

William has been a British prince since birth, and was known as "Prince William of Wales" until 2011. On his wedding day, 29 April 2011, his grandmother Elizabeth II created him Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus. The letters patent granting these titles were issued on 26 May that year.[1][2]

As the eldest son of the monarch, William automatically became Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland on the accession of his father on 8 September 2022.[3][4] From 8 to 9 September, William was styled as "His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall and Cambridge".[5] On 9 September, Charles III announced the creation of William as Prince of Wales. William has since been known as "His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales", except in Scotland where he has been styled as "His Royal Highness The Duke of Rothesay", since the accession of his father.[6][7] The letters patent formally granting him this titles of Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester were issued on 13 February 2023.[8] The usage of the title Prince of Wales has been subject to some controversy over the past decades.[9]

Titles
Title From
Date Reason
Duke of Cambridge 29 April 2011 Granted on the occasion of his wedding
Earl of Strathearn
Baron Carrickfergus
Duke of Cornwall 8 September 2022 His father's accession (automatically)
Duke of Rothesay
Earl of Carrick
Baron of Renfrew
Lord of the Isles
Prince and Great Steward of Scotland
Prince of Wales 9 September 2022 (announced)
13 February 2023 (gazetted)[8] 		Granted to the heir apparent
Earl of Chester 13 February 2023 (gazetted)

Surname[edit]

As a British prince, William does not use a surname for everyday purposes. For formal and ceremonial purposes, children of the Prince of Wales use the title "prince" or "princess" before their forename and follow it with their father's territorial designation. Thus, before becoming a duke when he married, Prince William was styled "Prince William of Wales". Such territorial designations are discarded by women when they marry and by men if they become peers in their own right,[10] such as when Prince William was made a duke.

Although the name of the royal house is Windsor, the surname Mountbatten-Windsor belongs to all the children and male-line descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and is used, if needed, by those who do not have the style of Royal Highness and the title Prince or Princess;[11] when a female descendant marries, she traditionally takes her husband's surname from that point onward, and their children take their father's. Both Princes William and Harry used Wales as their surname for military purposes; this continued to be the case for William after his creation as Duke of Cambridge.[12]

Military ranks[edit]

William in the No. 1A Service Dress (Ceremonial Day Dress) uniform of the Royal Air Force (rank worn is Squadron Leader) in September 2022 for the procession to Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
 United Kingdom

University degrees[edit]

Country Date University Degree
 Scotland 2005 University of St Andrews Master of Arts (Hons)[25]

Commonwealth realms[edit]

Further information: List of honours of the British royal family by country
Accompanied by his father, Prince William proceeds to St George's Chapel, Windsor, to be installed as the 1000th Knight of the Garter in 2008
Prince William wearing the insignia (aiguillette over his right shoulder and chest) of a personal aide-de-camp to the sovereign in 2013

Appointments (Shown in order in which appointments were made, not order of precedence)

Country Date Appointment Ribbon Post-nominal
letters
England Wales England and Wales 23 April 2008 Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter[26] KG
 Scotland 25 May 2012 Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle[27][28][29] KT
 United Kingdom 17 March 2013 Personal Aide-de-Camp to the Sovereign[30][31] ADC
 United Kingdom 9 June 2016 Member of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council[32] PC
 Tuvalu 30 October 2017 Recipient of the Tuvalu Order of Merit[33]
 United Kingdom 23 April 2024 Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath[34] GCB

Decorations and medals (Shown in order in which appointments were made, not order of precedence)

Country Date Decoration Ribbon Post-nominal
letters
 United Kingdom 6 February 2002 Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
 United Kingdom 6 February 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
 United Kingdom 6 February 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal
 United Kingdom 6 May 2023 King Charles III Coronation Medal

Foreign honours[edit]

Decorations[edit]

Country Date Decoration Ribbon Post-nominal
letters
 United States 6 July 2008 Joint Service Achievement Medal[35] [better source needed]

Wear of orders, decorations and medals[edit]

The ribbons worn regularly by William in undress uniform are as follows:

Ribbons of William, Prince of Wales
Great Master of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath
Queen Elizabeth II
Golden Jubilee Medal 		Queen Elizabeth II
Diamond Jubilee Medal 		Queen Elizabeth II
Platinum Jubilee Medal 		King Charles III
Coronation Medal

With medals, William normally wears the breast stars of the Garter, Thistle, and Bath. When only one should be worn, he wears the Order of the Garter star, except in Scotland where the Order of the Thistle star is worn.

Honorary military appointments[edit]

Prince William, then Duke of Cambridge, in uniform as Colonel of the Irish Guards in 2013
Canada Canada
United Kingdom United Kingdom

Non-national titles and honours[edit]

Country Date Organisation Position
 United Kingdom 6 July 2009 – present Honourable Society of the Middle Temple Royal Bencher[43]
 United Kingdom 23 June 2010 – present Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge Fellow (FRS)[44][45]
 Scotland 1 March 2017 – present Royal Society of Edinburgh Royal Honorary Fellow (HonFRSE)[46]
 United Kingdom 17 January 2018 – present Royal Society of Medicine Honorary Fellow (FRSM)[47]
 United Kingdom 2018 – present St John's College, Cambridge Honorary Fellow[48]
 Scotland 25 January 2020 – 28 February 2022 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Lord High Commissioner[49][50]

Honorific eponyms[edit]

Further information: Royal eponyms in Canada
The Royal William rose

Awards[edit]

Buildings[edit]

Flowers[edit]

Scholarships[edit]

  •  Canada: HRH Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Legacy Scholarship[54]

Arms[edit]

Coat of arms of William, Prince of Wales outside Scotland
Notes
The coat of arms of the Prince of Wales, as used outside Scotland, is the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom with the addition a three-pointed label and an inescutcheon bearing the arms of Wales. For the arms of the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, see royal coat of arms of Scotland.
Escutcheon
Quarterly first and fourth Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langed Azure second Or a lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure within a double tressure flory counterflory third Azure a harp Or stringed Argent, with over all a label of three points Argent, and on an inescutcheon ensigned by the coronet of the heir-apparent, quarterly, Or and Gules four lions passant guardant counterchanged, ensigned by the coronet of his degree.[55]
Symbolism
As with the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom. The first and fourth quarters are the arms of England, the second of Scotland, the third of Ireland. The inescutcheon represents Wales.
Previous versions
Prince William was granted a personal coat of arms on his 18th birthday, differenced by a white (or silver) label with three points, the centre point bearing a red clam shell (an "escallop"), to distinguish it from the arms of other members of the Royal Family.[56] The escallop (seashell) alludes to his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, whose Spencer coat of arms includes three Escallops Argent.[57]
Other versions
In February 2013, Queen Elizabeth II approved the conjugal arms of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, consisting of their individual arms displayed side by side, beneath a helm and coronet denoting the duke's status as grandson of the sovereign. These were released in September of the same year.[58]
Coat of arms of William, Duke of Rothesay in Scotland
Notes
The coat of arms of the Duke of Rothesay are only used in Scotland. Outside of Scotland the coat of arms of the Prince of Wales is the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom with the addition of a three-pointed label and an inescutcheon bearing the arms of Wales.
Adopted
8 September 2022
Crest
Upon the royal helm the coronet of the Prince of Wales, thereon a lion sejant affronté Gules armed and langued Azure, differenced with a label of three points azure, crowned with the coronet of the Prince of Wales holding in his dexter paw a sword and in his sinister a sceptre, both Proper
Escutcheon
Quarterly first and fourth Or fess chequy argent and azure second and third Argent a galley sable overall an inescutcheon Or a lion rampant gules armed and langued azure within a double tressure flory-counter-flory of the second a label of three points azure
Supporters
Unicorns Argent, armed, crined and unguled Or imperially crowned proper, gorged with a coronet Or composed of crosses patée and fleurs de lys a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back also Or, differenced with a label of three points azure. Sinister holding the standard of Saint Andrew, dexter holding the royal arms of Scotland differenced with a label of three points azure.
Compartment
A compartment underneath from which issue thistles one towards each side of the escutcheon
Orders
The Order of the Thistle collar
Symbolism
The first and fourth quarters represent the title of the Lord High Steward of Scotland with the arms of Clan Stewart, the second and third quarters represent the title of Lord of the Isles, and the inescutcheon is the royal arms of Scotland differenced for an eldest son with a label of three points azure

Banners, flags, and standards[edit]

Main articles: Royal Standard of the United Kingdom and Royal standards of Canada
Feathers of the Prince of Wales

As heir apparent[edit]

The banners used by the Prince of Wales vary depending upon location. His personal standard is the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom differenced as in his arms with a label of three points Argent, and the escutcheon of the arms of the Principality of Wales in the centre. It is used outside Wales, Scotland, Cornwall, and Canada, and throughout the entire United Kingdom when the prince is acting in an official capacity associated with the United Kingdom Armed Forces.[59]

The personal flag for use in Wales is based upon the Royal Badge of Wales (the historic arms of the Kingdom of Gwynedd), which consist of four quadrants, the first and fourth with a red lion on a gold field, and the second and third with a gold lion on a red field. Superimposed is an escutcheon Vert bearing the single-arched coronet of the Prince of Wales.[59]

In Scotland, the personal banner used since 1974 is based upon three ancient Scottish titles: Duke of Rothesay (heir apparent to the King of Scots), High Steward of Scotland and Lord of the Isles. The flag is divided into four quadrants like the arms of the Chief of Clan Stewart of Appin; the first and fourth quadrants comprise a gold field with a blue and silver checkered band in the centre; the second and third quadrants display a black galley on a silver field. The arms are differenced from those of Appin by the addition of an inescutcheon bearing the tressured lion rampant of Scotland; defaced by a plain label of three points Azure to indicate the heir apparent.[59]

In Cornwall, the banner is the arms of the Duke of Cornwall: "Sable 15 bezants Or", that is, a black field bearing 15 gold coins.[59]

In Canada, a personal heraldic banner for the Prince of Wales was first issued in 2011, consisting of the shield of the Arms of Canada defaced with both a blue roundel of the Prince of Wales's feathers surrounded by a wreath of gold maple leaves, and a white label of three points.[60]

Banners of arms
Royal standard of the Prince of Wales for the United Kingdom
Personal Banner for Wales
Royal Standard as Duke of Rothesay
Personal Banner for Scotland
Banner of arms for the Duke of Cornwall
Canadian standard for the Prince of Wales

Former standards[edit]

Prior to the accession of his father, William used a banner derived from his arms, for use outside of Scotland and Canada. There was a variation of this used when in Scotland. In 2011, the Canadian Heraldic Authority introduced a personal heraldic flag for the Duke of Cambridge's use in Canada. It is the Royal Arms of Canada in banner form defaced with a blue roundel surrounded with a wreath of gold maple leaves and shells within which is a depiction of a "W" surmounted by a coronet. Above the roundel is a white label of three points, charged with a red shell.[61][62][63]

  • Standard for the Duke of Cambridge
    Standard for the Duke of Cambridge
  • Standard for the Earl of Strathearn
    Standard for the Earl of Strathearn
  • Former Canadian personal Standard for Prince William
    Former Canadian personal Standard for Prince William

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Announcement of titles". Buckingham Palace. 29 April 2011. Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  2. ^ "No. 59798". The London Gazette. 1 June 2011. p. 10297.
  3. ^ Furness, Hannah; Mendick, Robert (10 September 2022). "Royal family title changes: William and Kate become Prince and Princess of Wales". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 10 September 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  4. ^ Elston, Laura (8 September 2022). "How the Royal Family's Titles Have Now Changed After the Death of the Queen". Bloomberg News. PA Media. Archived from the original on 10 September 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Duke of Cornwall and Cambridge". royal.uk. Archived from the original on 9 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Watch: King Charles's first speech in full". BBC News. 9 September 2022. Archived from the original on 9 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  7. ^ Furness, Hannah; Mendick, Robert (18 September 2022). "Royal family title changes in full: William and Kate become Prince and Princess of Wales". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  8. ^ a b "No. 63979". The London Gazette. 27 February 2023. p. 3638.
  9. ^ Clear, Stephen. "Prince of Wales: why William inheriting the title from Charles has sparked a debate". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Titles and succession: Royal Family name". Royal. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
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  12. ^ "A working day in the life of Flight Lieutenant Wales". Clarence House. 20 November 2012. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013. The Duke of Cambridge – who is known in his Royal Air Force working life as Flight Lieutenant Wales
  13. ^ Pace, Gina. "Prince William Begins Military School". CBS News. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  14. ^ a b "No. 58245". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 February 2007. p. 2075.
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  16. ^ "No. 61462". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 January 2016. p. 107.
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  18. ^ "No. 58580". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 January 2008. p. 493.
  19. ^ "No. 58941". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 January 2009. p. 117.
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  27. ^ "No. 27113". The Edinburgh Gazette. 29 June 2012. p. 1789.
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  30. ^ "Duke of Cambridge becomes Aide-de-Camp to the Queen". The Telegraph. 17 March 2013. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  31. ^ "Prince William given new royal role as 'personal aide de camp' to the Queen". The Guardian. 17 March 2013. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  32. ^ Tilbrook, Richard (9 June 2016). "ORDERS APPROVED AT THE PRIVY COUNCIL HELD BY THE QUEEN AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE ON 9TH JUNE 2016" (PDF). The Privy Council Office. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
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