Princess of Wales
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Princess of Wales is a courtesy title possessed automatically by the wife of the Prince of Wales since the first "English" Prince of Wales in 1282. Because of the mortality rate, combined with the fact that some Princes of Wales did not marry until after coming to the throne, there have in fact been only ten holders of the title since that date. These are as follows:
- Joan of Kent (held title 1361 - 1376)
- Anne Neville (1470 - 1471) (but marriage possibly not solemnised)
- Catherine of Aragon (1501-1502)
- Caroline of Ansbach (1714 - 1727)
- Augusta of Saxe-Gotha (1736 - 1751)
- Caroline of Brunswick (1795 - 1820)
- Alexandra of Denmark (1863 - 1901)
- Mary of Teck (1901 - 1910)
- Diana Spencer (1981 - 1996)
- Camilla Shand (2005 -) (only de jure, de facto known as the Duchess of Cornwall)
Several of these came to be queens consort. Those who did not generally took the title of "Dowager Princess of Wales" after the deaths of their husbands. (Following the annulment of Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Catherine was reverted to her earlier title of Dowager Princess of Wales, ie, the widow of Henry's older brother, Arthur, Prince of Wales.)
It is important to note that a female heir to the throne is not known by the title of Princess of Wales, .
Legally, Camilla Parker Bowles became Princess of Wales upon her marriage to Prince Charles, however it has been announced that she will be known instead as HRH The Duchess of Cornwall thus taking one of her husband's subsidiary titles.
Princess of Wales is not a princess
Contrary to widespread belief, the Princess of Wales is not actually a princess in her own right. While many past princesses, for example Catherine of Aragon and Alexandra of Denmark, were called Princess Catherine and Princess Alexandra, that was because they were already princesses (of Spain and Denmark respectively) when they married. Though Lady Diana Spencer was commonly called Princess Diana after her marriage to Charles, Prince of Wales, it was officially incorrect, as Diana herself pointed out, because she personally was not a princess. Similarly the current Princess of Wales, Camilla, is not Princess Camilla.