Princess of Wales Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Princess of Wales
Arms of the Princess of Wales
Incumbent Catherine since 9 September 2022
Style	Her Royal Highness
Member of	British royal family
First holder	Eleanor de Montfort (Welsh title) Joan of Kent (British title)
Website	royal.uk

The Princess of Wales (in Welsh: Tywysoges Cymru) is a special title. It has been used since the 1300s for the wife of the person who is expected to become the next king of England, and later, Great Britain. The current Princess of Wales is Catherine, who was formerly known as Catherine Middleton.

The title was first used in an independent Wales. This was when Eleanor de Montfort held it. She was married to Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, who was the native Prince of Wales at that time.

History of the Title
- Early Princesses in Wales
- Later Welsh Princesses
Wives of the British Heir Apparent
Images for kids
See also

History of the Title

Before the title 'Princess' was used, some wives of Welsh rulers were called 'Queen'. For example, Angharad ferch Owain was the wife of Gruffudd ap Cynan. Also, Cristin verch Goronwy, who was the wife of Gruffudd's son, Owain Gwynedd, was known as 'Queen Dowager'.

Early Princesses in Wales

Joan, also known by her Welsh name Siwan, was the daughter of King John of England. She married Llywelyn the Great, who was the main ruler of all Wales. During her time, she was called 'Lady of Wales' and 'Lady of Snowdon'. Some people think she might have been considered a Princess of Wales too.

Memorial to Gwenllian in Sempringham, England. She was kept here from childhood.

Eleanor de Montfort officially became the Princess of Wales after her wedding in 1278. She sadly died in 1282 while giving birth to her first child, Gwenllian.

The baby Gwenllian was captured by English soldiers the next year. This happened after her father, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, was killed. King Edward I ordered that Gwenllian be kept in a quiet place called Sempringham Priory. She stayed there until she died in 1337. The English King even mentioned her as "the Princess of Wales" in a letter to the Pope.

Later Welsh Princesses

Margaret Hanmer was the wife of Owain Glyndŵr, a famous Welsh leader. Some historians today call her the 'Princess of Wales'.

Catrin was one of the children of Owain Glyndŵr and Margaret Hanmer. In 1402, she married Sir Edmund Mortimer. He was related to the English royal family.

Edmund Mortimer died in 1409 during a siege. Catrin, her three daughters, her mother, and one of her sisters were captured. They were taken to the Tower of London. Catrin and her daughters later died and were buried in London. We don't know why they died.

Wives of the British Heir Apparent

The title of Princess of Wales is usually given to the wife of the heir apparent. This is the person who is next in line to the throne.

Mary I was the only child of Henry VIII for a long time. Her father gave her many of the rights and properties that usually belonged to the Prince of Wales. Because of this, she was often called the Princess of Wales, even though she never officially received the title.

In the past, some Welsh politicians wanted Elizabeth II to be given the title of Princess of Wales when she turned 18. But her father, George VI, said no. He believed the title should only be for the wife of a Prince of Wales.

Camilla was the Princess of Wales from 2005 to 2022. She is the second wife of Charles III. However, she chose not to use the title. This was because many people strongly connected the title with her husband's first wife, Diana.

On September 9, 2022, Charles III became king. He then gave his older son, Prince William, the title of Prince of Wales. This made William's wife, Catherine, the new Princess of Wales.