When Prince Charles became King Charles III in September 2022, Prince William automatically inherited a handful of royal titles as apparent heir to the throne. Others have bestowed upon him before and since then.
We look closer at how many titles he actually now holds, and what they all mean.
How many royal titles does prince William have?
Prince William actually holds 11 royal titles.
The Prince of Wales
On 9th September 2022, Prince William was officially passed the title of the Prince of Wales by his father, King Charles III. The title of Prince of Wales is traditionally given to the male heir to the British throne.
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While it’s a role steeped in history, today it sparks debate. Some feel it overlooks Wales’s unique identity as a nation, and acts as a reminder of past tensions between Wales and England.
Dating back to 1301, the Prince of Wales is also traditionally granted the title of Earl of Chester. While the two titles remain distinct, they have been held together by the heir to the throne since the late 14th century.
Duke of Cambridge
Prince William was known as Prince William of Wales until 2011, when he became the Duke of Cambridge following his marriage to Catherine Middleton. The title of Duke is one of the highest ranks in the British peerage and is traditionally given to senior royals. Catherine received the title Duchess of Cambridge.
The Duke of Cambridge is a hereditary title often given to senior male royals upon marriage. It's named after the city of Cambridge, but it's not a job or connection to the city itself.
Duke of Cornwall
When King Charles III ascended the throne, Prince William also stepped into his new role as Duke of Cornwall, with Catherine becoming the Duchess of Cornwall. They kept their Cambridge titles and were briefly known as Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge before the Prince of Wales title was bestowed, which they now use as it is a higher title.
Being Duke of Cornwall means Prince William inherited the massive, privately owned Duchy of Cornwall, a vast estate. He now manages the extensive land and property.
Duke of Rothsay
As well as the title Duke of Cornwall, Prince William ascended the title Duke of Rothesay. It's a traditional Scottish title used specifically when the heir to the British throne is in Scotland, instead of using the English title, Prince of Wales.
Earl of Carrick
Prince William also inherited at the same time as Duke of Rothsay the subsidiary title of Earl of Carrick – a Scottish earldom historically held by Robert the Bruce.
On top of that, he automatically received Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.
Earl of Strathearn
Queen Elizabeth II recreated this title for Prince William as a gift on his wedding day, linking him to Scotland where the couple met. It originated in medieval times.
He was also given the title of Baron Carrickfergus on his wedding day, which he uses when visiting Northern Ireland. Carrickfergus is the oldest town in County Antrim. Catherine is Lady Carrickfergus.
The historic title is traditionally passed to the eldest son of the reigning British monarch.
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Military titles
In addition to his noble peerages, Prince William holds several senior military and ceremonial roles as of late 2025, serving as Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, The Mercian Regiment and The Queen’s Dragoon Guards; Colonel of the Welsh Guards; Royal Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Valley; Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Navy Submarine Service and Scotland; and Great Master of the Order of the Bath, a prestigious chivalric role granted in April 2024.
Main image: Prince William pictured in November 2025. Credit: Getty Images
