Princess Diana is one of the most loved members of the royal family. Decades after her death, she was oftentimes likened to her daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton. Royal fans couldn’t help but imagine what the two women’s relationship would’ve been like if they had met. Royal experts have also pointed out some similarities between the two. But they are different in at least one aspect: their royal titles.
Why Was Princess Diana Styled As Princess But Not Kate Middleton?
Following Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding, the latter became known as a princess even though she wasn’t supposed to be one. Since Princess Diana only became a member of the royal family after she wed Prince Charles, she was only supposed to be known as Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales.
But because she was well-loved by the public, they started calling her Princess Diana or Princess Di. So, Prince William and Prince Harry’s mom inherited the title out of love and fondness from her fans, according to Express.
After her divorce from Prince Charles, Princess Diana was no longer able to use Her Royal Highness's title. Instead, she was known as Diana, Princess of Wales. Even if she was no longer married to Prince Charles, she still kept her Princess of Wales title.
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Kate Middleton Isn’t A Princess
Middleton, on the other hand, is referred to as Duchess of Cambridge and not as Princess Kate. Since she became a member of the royal family following her marriage to Prince William, she’s not technically a princess. Instead, she’s known as Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge. But in her children’s birth certificates, her occupation is listed as Princess of the United Kingdom.
“While known as the Duke of Cambridge, he also remains a prince in status as the grandson of the monarch and as second in line to the throne. It is therefore correct for the Duchess of Cambridge to describe herself as Princess of the United Kingdom,” Lucy Hume, associate director at Debrett’s, said (via Express).
Princess Diana, Kate Middleton Comparisons
Throughout the years, Princess Diana and Middleton have also been compared to each other for entirely different reasons. Every now and then, the Duchess of Cambridge pays tribute to her mother-in-law by wearing outfits that are similar to what the late royal wore. She also poses in a similar manner to Princess Diana.
Last month, a never-before-seen portrait of Princess Diana was included in a new exhibition called Life Through a Royal Lens. The portrait was taken by photographer David Bailey when Princess Diana was 27 years old.
The Princess of Wales’ portrait drew comparisons to Middleton’s 40th birthday photos that were released earlier this year.
Prince William’s wife has also been very vocal about the importance of paying homage to her late mother-in-law. During a 2010 interview, she told Tom Brady that she would’ve loved to meet the Princess of Wales.
“Obviously I would have loved to have met her and she's obviously an inspirational woman to look up to,” she said (via E! News).
Unfortunately, Princess Diana and Middleton never had the opportunity to meet each other. After all, the mom of two died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. Prince William and Middleton met at the university years later.
Check back for more stories and updates about Princess Diana and Kate Middleton here at EpicStream!
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