Princess Charlotte, the second child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, is a unique member of the royal family.
Despite being the granddaughter of the King and third in line to the throne, royal experts believe she will likely not be a working royal and will need to pursue a career, in line with King Charles III’s vision of a slimmed-down monarchy.
Charlotte has already captured the hearts of many, with many noting her striking resemblance to her late grandmother, Princess Diana—not just in appearance but in personality as well. In fact, she even carries her grandmother’s name as her third name.
Titles and Royal Traditions
While Charlotte is third in line to the throne, she may miss out on a title her brothers will receive when they marry—that of a Duchess. Traditionally, royal men, such as Prince William and Prince Harry, were granted dukedoms on their wedding days, making their wives Duchesses.
Charlotte, however, would only receive such a title if she marries a Duke. This could change with modern updates to royal tradition.
“Now, with gender-equal succession, I think it would be more possible to grant a peerage to Charlotte,” royal historian Marlene Koenig told Hello! Magazine. “Prince Louis will get one when he marries, so it would only be fair if Charlotte was named a Duchess on her wedding day.”
However, Charlotte is eligible for a title her brothers cannot receive—the title of Princess Royal, traditionally given to the monarch’s eldest daughter. This title, currently held by Princess Anne, is not inherited and remains for life.
“It is a title that remains for life, so Princess Charlotte will have to wait at least until the death of the current Princess Royal,” royal author Duncan Larcombe told Town and Country.
The Royal Family and Gifts
Like all members of the royal family, Charlotte follows strict traditions regarding gifts. According to official royal guidelines, gifts received during official duties belong to the King, not the individual royal.
“Gifts are defined as official when received during an official engagement or duty or in connection with the official role or duties of a member of The Royal Family,” the rule states.
“Official gifts are not the private property of the Member of The Royal Family who receives them but are instead received in an official capacity in the course of official duties in support of, and on behalf of The King.”
However, King Charles is known as a loving grandfather and likely allows his grandchildren to enjoy the gifts they receive. Before they can keep them, though, each gift must pass a strict security test. They are first registered on an official “gift receive form” before undergoing inspection, The Daily Record reports.
Despite the traditions and restrictions, Princess Charlotte remains a cherished member of the royal family, with a bright future ahead.