Inside Kate Middleton and Prince William’s new royal titles

One of the biggest differences William and Kate’s new titles makes is financially - even becoming King Charles landlord.

King Charles moved so swiftly naming William and Catherine the Prince and Princess of

Wales, he took royal experts by surprise.

And the new Team Wales wasted no time getting down to business, meeting Australian and Commonwealth troops taking part in the Queen’s funeral yesterday at the Army Training Centre Pirbright, outside of London.

They looked every inch the senior royals they are — Prince William in a navy suit with his

medals and Princess Kate in a black Catherine Walker military-style coat she has previously

worn to a Remembrance Sunday service.

Catherine, Princess of Wales meets with military personnel during a visit to Army Training Centre Pirbright in Guildford, England. Picture: Getty Images.

“We hadn’t expected to get a new Prince and Princess of Wales so soon in the new reign,”

says Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty Magazine, “but the king clearly felt that since

William is his heir, clarity from the start was important.

“In just over 24 hours they went from Cambridge to Cornwall and Cambridge and then

Wales.”

Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales meet with military personnel during a visit to Army Training Centre Pirbright in Guildford, England. Picture: Getty Images.

It means Prince William and Princess Kate’s official workload increases significantly, as they will be expected to share many of the investitures, state dinners and events, always attend the

Trooping the Colour and represent the King even more in international tours and ceremonies.

The Wales’ will also have to absorb some of the Queen’s – and the former Prince of Wales’

patronages, although the new King intimated many of these would inevitably be shed.

He inherited hundreds of the Queen’s patronages, many of which will need to be redistributed or lapse.

King Charles already had more than 400 patronages, as well as The Prince’s Trust, which is now expected to become a separate entity.

“It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply,” Charles said in his first speech.

“But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others.”

Prince William currently has 37 patronages including The Royal Foundation, but has previously spoken of a desire to streamline his charity commitments into ‘five or six core subjects’.

And while the King can no longer be as campaigning on issues like the environment, as he

once was, his son is expected to continue championing them through some of his father’s

patronages, plus his initiatives, such as the Earthshot Prize, which takes place in Boston in

December.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge enjoy a pint of Guinness. Picture: AFP.

One of William and Kate’s first destinations as the new Prince and Princess of Wales, is Wales.

The couple already has close ties with the nation, having spent a couple of happy years living in a farmhouse in Anglesey from 2011 to 2013 as newlyweds, while William worked as an RAF search-and-rescue pilot.

“The prince and princess look forward to celebrating Wales’s proud history and traditions as

well as a future that is full of promise. They will seek to live up to the proud contribution that

members of the Royal Family have made in years past,” Kensington Palace said in a

statement, adding they plan to travel to Wales “very soon”.

William’s formal investiture as Prince of Wales will be scheduled – like his father’s

coronation – some time in the future.

Fans of the Netflix series The Crown will remember Charles’ ceremony at Caernarfon Castle took place in 1969, but William is tipped to have a much more low-key event at somewhere like Cardiff Castle.

In Scotland, Prince William inherits the titles Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.

One of the biggest differences the title makes, is financially. As the Prince of Wales and

Duke of Cornwall, Prince William takes control of the $A1.7 billion Duchy of Cornwall – and

even becomes his father’s landlord.

Highgrove House, King Charles’ cherished home in Gloucestershire, is owned by the Duchy, although Prince William won’t be turfing his tenant out any time soon as Charles was appointed a tenant for life.

Queen Elizabeth II with from left, the then-Prince Charles, Prince Louis, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William during platinum jubilee celebrations. Picture: AFP.

The Duchy of Cornwall encompasses multiple properties in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly,

thousands of acres of land, forests and moorland and even the Oval cricket ground in London.

King Charles had successfully implemented sustainability projects through the Duchy, but Prince William might have more radical ideas. Last year, it was reported he’s considering using some of the Duchy’s properties to help the homeless.

As patron of Centrepoint and The Passage, he pledged to continue his work with the charities, after Princess Diana took him to visit them when he was a child.

“Over the many years that I have visited The Passage, first with my mother when I was just a small boy, I have developed a great affection for you all,” he tweeted after a visit to The Passage last year.

The other responsibility that comes with the title of Prince and Princess of Wales is living up

to the woman who had it before. Diana’s name has been forever associated with Princess of

Wales – Camilla did not use it when she married Charles in 2005.

Now, 25 years after Diana died, it symbolises a new start, new reign and new generation. It

also gives the couple a little star power which can only enhance the King and Queen’s court.

“With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to

inspire and lead our national conversations,” the King said.

Of her new title, Kate reportedly said she “appreciates the history associated with this

role” – she’s been preparing for it for more than a decade.

On the couple’s engagement in 2010 William said: “There’s no pressure … 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.”