The Queen is dead, long live the King: How royal titles will reshuffle

Our new King, Charles III, has taken the throne after the death of his beloved mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Charles’ ascension also means many members of the royal family will now be given new, or additional titles.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

She declined to be styled as the Princess of Wales upon her marriage to the King in 2005, widely believed to be out of respect for the late Princess Diana.

Pundits often said it was unlikely the Duchess would ever be styled as Queen Consort for the same reasoning — and perhaps out of deference to early public opinion which had painted her in a negative light because of her affair with the then-Prince Charles while still married. However, in her speech the night before her Platinum Jubilee, the Queen announced that her daughter-in-law would be Queen Consort.

It is not just “Queen Camilla” because she was not born into the royal family, but is, rather, married to the King.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge

Prince William is now the next in line to the throne.

He is highly likely to become Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall — that title also has an added financial benefit, thanks to his father’s estate — and his wife, Catherine will also be given the associated titles to match.

Perhaps most intriguing is whether the Duchess will take on her mother-in-law’s title of Princess of Wales and, despite it not being quite right according to protocol, be styled as Princess Catherine, as Diana once was.

Archie Harrison and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor

Much was made of little Archie not being a prince by his mother, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in her now-infamous Oprah interview mere days before the death of Prince Philip.

Of course, Archie and his sister Lilibet were never going to have the HRH prince and princess titles while their great-grandmother was alive because under protocols established by George V in letters patent more than 100 years ago in 1917, only the children and grandchildren of a sovereign have the automatic right to them.

As future children of the monarch, Prince William’s children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte were granted their titles after the Queen stepped in ahead of George’s birth to issue letters patent to ensure they were granted the titles.

The same was not done for Prince Harry’s children as they are not direct heirs to the throne. However, now their grandfather is on the throne, both may be granted HRH status and be styled as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, unless the new King decides he wants to remove that right under a much slimmer working royal family.

Edward, Earl of Wessex

It is believed the Earl will inherit his much-loved father’s title of the Duke of Edinburgh, making Sophie the Duchess of Edinburgh.

The Princess Royal

Princess Anne was given the title “Princess Royal” by her mother. It is a title she will retain for life, having previously been held by Princess Margaret before her. The death of her mother does not affect her title.

Saturday, in a special 32 page commemorative liftout, The West Australian pays tribute to the extraordinary life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We celebrate her life, from early childhood and her ascension to the throne, to life with her beloved Prince Philip and family. Don’t miss this special edition of The West Australian on Saturday.