Duke of Cambridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dukedom of Cambridge
Arms of William, Prince of Wales
Creation date	29 April 2011 (announced) 26 May 2011 (Letters Patent)
Creation	Fifth
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Peerage	Peerage of the United Kingdom
Present holder	Prince William
Heir apparent	Prince George
Remainder to	the 1st Duke's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titles	Earl of Strathearn Baron Carrickfergus
Status	Extant

The Duke of Cambridge is a special title given to members of the British royal family. It's one of the six main royal dukedom titles in the United Kingdom. The title is passed down through the male family line, usually to the oldest son. It's named after the city of Cambridge in England.

This title has been given out several times throughout history. It was first created in 1660. The title has ended a few times because the person holding it didn't have a male heir. It was brought back in 2011 when Queen Elizabeth II gave it to her grandson, Prince William, on his wedding day, April 29, 2011. His wife, Catherine Middleton, became known as the Duchess of Cambridge.

History of the Title

The title of Duke of Cambridge has a long history. It was first used in 1660 by King Charles II. He gave it to his baby nephew, Charles Stuart. Sadly, Charles died when he was only six months old.

Early Dukes and the Title Ending

The first time the title was officially created was in 1664. King Charles II gave it to his next nephew, James Stuart. James also died young, at age three in 1667. This meant the title ended again.

Later that same year, King Charles II gave the title to another nephew, Edgar Stuart. He also passed away as a baby, at age three in 1671. So, the title ended for a third time. Another baby, Charles, was called Duke of Cambridge in 1677, but he lived for only about a month.

The Title Merges with the Crown

In 1706, Queen Anne brought the title back. She gave it to George Augustus. He was a distant cousin and later became King George II. When George Augustus became king in 1727, his title of Duke of Cambridge joined with the Crown. This means the title became part of being the King and was no longer a separate title.

The 19th Century Dukes

The title was created again in 1801 by King George III. He gave it to his seventh son, Prince Adolphus. Prince Adolphus held the title until he died in 1850.

His only son, Prince George, then became the 2nd Duke of Cambridge. Prince George had three sons, but they could not inherit the title. This was because his marriage did not follow a special royal rule from 1772. So, when Prince George died in 1904, the title ended once more.

The Modern Duke of Cambridge

Before the 1999 wedding of Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II's youngest son, some people thought he might become the Duke of Cambridge. However, he was given the title Earl of Wessex instead.

On April 29, 2011, a very special day, Queen Elizabeth II gave the title of Duke of Cambridge to her grandson, Prince William. This was the day Prince William married Catherine Middleton. Along with Duke of Cambridge, he also received the titles of Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus. These titles connect him to England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Dukes of Cambridge

Styled Duke, 1660

First Creation, 1664

Duke	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
James Stuart House of Stuart 1664–1667	James Stuart, Duke of Cambridge	Born: 12 July 1663 Son of James, Duke of York	Not married	Died: 20 June 1667 Aged 3

Second Creation, 1667

Styled Duke, 1677

Third Creation, 1706

Duke	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
Prince George House of Hanover 1706–1727	Prince George Augustus	Born: 30 October 1683 Son of Prince George of Brunswick-Lüneburg (later King George I)	Married: 22 August 1705 Caroline of Ansbach 10 children	Died: 25 October 1760 Aged 76
Prince George became King George II in 1727. His titles, including the dukedom, then became part of the Crown.

Fourth Creation, 1801

Duke	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
Prince Adolphus House of Hanover 1801–1850	Prince Adolphus	Born: 24 February 1774 Son of King George III	Married: 18 June 1818 Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel 3 children	Died: 8 July 1850 Aged 76
Prince George House of Hanover 1850–1904	Prince George	Born: 26 March 1819 Son of Prince Adolphus	Married: 8 January 1847 Sarah Fairbrother 3 children	Died: 17 March 1904 Aged 84
Prince George's marriage did not follow royal rules, so his sons could not inherit his titles. All his titles ended when he died.

Fifth Creation, 2011

Duke	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
Prince William House of Windsor 2011–present	Prince William	Born: 21 June 1982 Eldest son of Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales	Married: 29 April 2011 Catherine Middleton 3 children	Current age 42

Who Can Inherit the Title?

If Prince William passes away before he becomes king, his sons are next in line to inherit the Dukedom of Cambridge:

If Prince William becomes king, his titles, including the Dukedom of Cambridge, will join with the Crown. This means they become part of being the King and are no longer separate titles.

Family Tree

See also

• Duke of Cambridge's Personal Canadian Flag
• Marquess of Cambridge
• Earl of Cambridge