Prince and Princess of Wales: William and Catherine to ‘carve their own future’

Prince William and his wife, Catherine, have been named the new Prince and Princess of Wales by King Charles III.

King Charles announced their new titles during his first speech as monarch on Friday night, a day after his mother’s death.

“Today, I am proud to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru,” said Charles, who previously held the title.

The couple’s titles have already been updated on the royal family website.

The new King made the announcement in his first address to the nation following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Thursday, aged 96.

“With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations,” he said. He added that they would help “bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given”.

The pair will also take the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall titles, previously held by the King and his wife, Camilla, the new Queen Consort.

The King added that the Prince of Wales title was one he had “been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty”.

Catherine becomes the first since Princess Diana to use the Princess of Wales title, one that was also previously Camilla’s, but which she never used.

The new Princess of Wales has reacted to her new royal title, saying she “appreciates the history associated with this role”. Catherine described Diana as “an inspirational woman to look up to” following her engagement to Prince William in 2010.

William, who lived and worked in Anglesey where he trained with the Royal Air Force, added at that time: “There’s no pressure because, like Kate said, it is about carving your own future. No one is trying to fill my mother’s shoes. What she did is fantastic.

“It’s about making your own future and your own destiny and Kate will do a very good job of that.”

Despite King Charles announcing that William will become Prince of Wales, people are signing a petition calling for the abolition of the title, which is seen by some as a symbol of subjugation. By Saturday morning it had passed the 7,000 mark.

The Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, said he looked forward to a deepening relationship with the new Prince and Princess of Wales.