Celebrity

Kate Middleton Had 'Reservations' Over Taking The Title Of 'Princess Of Wales' From Princess Diana: 'Wishes To Carve Out Her Own Role'

February 24, 2026 by Maria Pierides
shefinds | Celebrity
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Another revelation from Russell Myers’ new book William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, which is due to be released on February 26th in the U.K. and March 10th under a slightly different title in the U.S., has just come to light.

The revelation follows earlier claims from the book that Kate Middleton more or less predicted that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would eventually step down as senior royals amid what was described as a “toxic” environment involving Prince William, Kate, Prince Harry and Meghan.

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Kate Middleton and Princess Diana red suits

Kate Middleton Knew The Importance Of The Princess Of Wales Title

Another thing Myers revealed was how seriously Kate took the historic weight of the 'Princess of Wales' title – one so closely associated with the late Princess Diana, who remains widely known as "the people's princess."

As we know, Prince William and Kate held the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge titles since their wedding in 2011. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William became Prince of Wales – a title previously held by his father, now King Charles III – and Kate accordingly became Princess of Wales.

According to Myers, however, the transition was far from automatic in Kate's mind. The book suggests that her hesitation stemmed not from reluctance to serve, but from a deep awareness that if she accepted the title, she wanted to do so in a way that allowed her to carve out her own identity within it.

Kate Middleton and Princess Diana blue outfits with hats

Kate Middleton's 'Reservations' About Taking On The Title

Speaking about her "reservations" about taking on the title of Princess of Wales, especially because of what the role meant, Myers wrote: "Courtiers said that while Catherine had a full appreciation of the history associated with the role, she was determined to find her own path."

"But Catherine had also privately expressed to William and to Charles her reservations about taking over the title, conscious of the British public's exceptional feeling for, and connection to, Princess Diana even 25 years after her death."

A former senior aide to Prince William and Kate added: "This tells you how considered she is."

Kate Middleton and Princess Diana blue and white outfits

Kate Middleton Was Aware Of The 'Inevitable Comparisons With Diana'

The aide, as per excerpts obtained ahead of the book's release, went on: "She is benevolent with her intentions, but also wishes to carve out her own role for both herself and her family, which in many ways looks very different to how generations of royals have acted in the past."

"She is very aware the pace that she wants to progress and the way in which she sees her future role within the institution," the aide continued.

They added: "I think when she was convinced to take the title on, and there was a bit of convincing, she felt that while there would be inevitable comparisons with Diana, she could manage it in her own way while having full respect for the way Diana carved out a very different role for herself within the royal family."

Author:

Senior Celebrity Writer

Maria has spent the last decade writing about entertainment, fashion, and lifestyle for online and print publications all around the globe – including InStyle, OK!, and The Mirror. At SheFinds, Maria covers breaking celebrity news, red carpet looks, celebrity transformations, A-list couples, and has a watchful eye on celebrity social media accounts. You can reach her at contactmariapierides@gmail.com