Kate Middleton Has a New Title—and It Previously Belonged to Prince William

Christmas has come early for some members of the Royal Family, who just received new titles, People reports. Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, received a new title from King Charles III, and it's one that previously belonged to her husband, Prince William. Charles named his daughter-in-law the new honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards, which is particularly fitting as Kate has been honoring this guard's regiment on St. Patrick's Day since she married William in 2011.

Each year during the St. Patrick's Day holiday, Kat, who wears a celebratory green ensemble, greets the Irish guards—often alongside the regimental mascot Irish wolfhound who we all know as Seamus (his official name is Turlough Mor). The celebrations typically include a toast with Guinness, naturally!

The title was originally given to William by Queen Elizabeth in 2011, just two months before the Prince and Princess of Wales got married. We suspect that the notoriously competitive couple has gotten a good laugh about the change.

Kate isn't the only one getting a new title, though. In a speech the day after Queen Elizabeth's death in September of 2022, Charles named his son the new Colonel of the Welsh Guards, which makes sense as he is the Prince of Wales. Charles also gave his wife Camilla, Queen Consort of the United Kingdom, a fancy new title: Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, an honor that was removed from Prince Andrew by Queen Elizabeth.

In other news from Buckingham Palace, this will be the Royal Family's first Christmas without Queen Elizabeth. While their late matriarch will be dearly missed, the Family will gather and participate in long-standing Christmas traditions that have largely been on hold for the past two years due to the pandemic, People reports. As they have for many years past, the British royals will come together at Sandringham, exchange gag gifts on Christmas Eve, and walk to church together on Christmas morning. It's expected that those in attendance will include Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, and the royal couple's three children, Geroge, Charlotte, and Louis. Other family members joining will likely include Charles' siblings and their families. Prince Harry, Meghan, and their children are not expected to attend the royal Christmas celebrations.

It was also recently announced that the first public celebration of the King's birthday, called Trooping the Colour, will take place June 17, 2023—six weeks after his coronation which will be held on May 6. Even though the King's birthday is actually in November he will celebrate in the summer due to the nicer weather (his late mother did the same). This celebration will consist of over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, 400 live musicians, and a flypast by Royal Air Force jets and the Red Arrows. As per usual, the festivities will be broadcasted on live television for the world to enjoy.