Prince George is anticipated to receive a prestigious title before becoming king—unless Prince William chooses to break with tradition.

William, now 42, acquired the title from his father, King Charles, after the passing of the late queen in 2022.

Prince George to Inherit the Prince of Wales Title

Just as his father and grandfather before him, Prince George is expected to inherit the title of Prince of Wales before ascending to the throne. This custom, dating back to the 14th century, has been a longstanding tradition for heirs apparent.

The title was first given to Edward of Caernarfon in 1301 by his father, Edward I, following his conquest of Wales. Since then, the reigning monarch has typically bestowed this title upon the heir apparent.

The tradition saw a brief hiatus after 1936 when Edward VIII became king but did not pass the title on due to his lack of children. It was revived in 1958 when the late queen granted the title to Charles at the age of nine. Charles’s formal investiture as Prince of Wales occurred 11 years later at Caernarfon Castle, with approximately 500 million viewers witnessing the ceremony.

When Charles married Princess Diana, she became the first Princess of Wales since 1910, when Mary of Teck assumed the role as queen consort.