September 8 was the end of an era indeed. Queen Elizabeth died at the age of 96, ending her 70 years of reign in the United Kingdom, and with her death came King Charles III. It's obviously going to be a huge transition for the monarchy itself, with Charles and wife Camilla stepping into their new roles, but it also brings about a lot of change for Prince William and Kate Middleton.
William is now first in line to the throne instead of second, and with that comes new and greater responsibilities. As he prepares to follow in his father's footsteps and become king himself one day, his and Kate's lives — and their children's lives — are going to look a lot different.
Here's what will be changing in the coming weeks and beyond for the couple. Whatever their new roles bring them, it certainly seems like William and Kate are well prepared for the challenge.
Title Changes
Though immediately after the Queen's death, William and Kate became the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge, less than 24 hours later, their titles changed again. King Charles granted them the titles Prince of Wales and Princess of Wales (the same title that Princess Diana held when she was alive).
New Living Arrangements
Even though William and Kate (along with their kids) just made the move to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, they may have to pack their things up all over again. Reportedly, Charles wants them to move to Windsor Castle now that the Queen is gone. But insiders claim that William and Kate will delay the move as long as possible to give their kids some breathing room after changing schools and homes so recently.
Greater Responsibility
The Queen's death meant that William has moved up in the line of succession, making him second in line to the throne. William has never been closer to becoming the king of England, which means he and Kate will likely have to take on more responsibility (especially without help from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, who continue to live in California, away from royal life).
Check out our Meghan Markle page for all the latest news about Meghan, Prince Harry, and their growing family.
A New Legacy
William and Kate aren't the first to hold the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales. While Diana will obviously never be forgotten, the time that she and Charles held the titles was a time of turbulence, including their public divorce. Now, William and Kate will be the ones to decide what the legacy and the future of this title will look like.
Title Changes for the Kids
Along with their parents, George, Charlotte, and Louis all have title changes, too. Now, they are Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, and Prince Louis of Wales instead of Cambridge — the title all of them previously held from birth. They've all also moved up in the line of succession, with George in second, Charlotte in third, and Louis in fourth.
The Duchy of Cornwall
Now that his father is king, William has officially inherited the Duchy of Cornwall. It's a portfolio of assets previously owned by Charles, including land, that's valued at $1 billion, so this will come with a significant change to William's net worth. According to The Guardian, the Duchy generated $24 million in revenue in 2021.
William Will Offer More Support to Charles
According to the royal family's official website, the duties of William's new role as the Prince of Wales include supporting "His Majesty the King as the focal point for national pride, unity, and allegiance."
This means that William will be the one representing his father at numerous state visits and events, since Charles obviously can't be everywhere. We can expect William's schedule to fill up a bit more quickly than it would have before.
More Public Sightings
With the new responsibilities that come with their roles, we will likely see a lot more of William and Kate than ever before. They will be called to make more appearances and go on more royal tours now — which is good news for anyone who loves seeing Kate's latest outfits.
New Patronages for Kate
Kate is believed to be taking on new patronages to show her support as the Princess of Wales, especially since this is something that Charles hinted at in his first speech as the new king.
"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 center ground where vital help can be given," he said, via The Guardian.
Travel Arrangements Will Change
There's a rule in the royal family that two heirs to the throne aren't supposed to travel together, but an exception was made for William and his children, given that they are so young. Now that he's the heir apparent, though, that could change, meaning that he and eldest son Prince George will always have to travel separately from now on.
Dealing With New Emotions
According to what royal sources told Us Weekly, William and Kate's new titles come with an "emotional weight" for the couple.
"I think it is quite moving for a lot of people that the last person to hold [the Princess of Wales title] was William's mother and now it's his wife," royal historian Gareth Russell said. "I think it puts a good kind of pressure [on the couple] because it brings a lot of the emotional collateral charisma that Princess Diana had … and invests that title with a certain emotional appeal to people."
More Media Scrutiny
The media has always been pretty kind to William and Kate, but now they'll be living under a microscope like never before. As the next king of England, we imagine that William will be receiving a bit more criticism from the media, and of course, Kate will be included in that. We hope they've grown a thick skin by now!
Putting on a United Front
William and Prince Harry have obviously been feuding for a while now, but William may no longer have the luxury of fighting with his brother — at least, not without bigger consequences. It will likely be up to him and Kate to make sure the family puts on a united front, especially during a time of such change for the monarchy. But with their recent walkabout at Windsor Castle, where they were joined by Harry and Meghan, they're off to a great start.
The Pressure Is On
It's no secret that King Charles' approval rating as a prince wasn't great — according to The Independent, more than 40% of people in the UK thought that the crown should bypass Charles and go straight to William. Given that William and Kate have long been royal favorites, they may have to be the ones who keep the monarchy alive and keep the people happy. And that means that the pressure is on.
Preparing the Kids
Now that William is officially the heir apparent, the reality of George — who is just 9 years old — becoming king someday is likely starting to hit more than ever before. It is now William and Kate's job to more seriously prepare him — and their other children — for what the future holds. Hopefully it will be many years before George has to step into the role of king.
