The Princess of Wales throughout history, from Catherine of Aragon to Catherine Middleton
Catherine Middleton currently holds the title of the Princess of Wales thanks to her marriage to William, Prince of Wales.
But the British royal is only the latest in a long line to hold the title, and not even the first Catherine to be bestowed the Princess of Wales.
The title actually harks all the way back to the 14th century and has historically been bestowed through marriage to the Prince of Wales.
Since the first Princess of Wales, there have been 11 royals to have inherited the historic title.
Read on to see each of the women who have been known as the Princess of Wales throughout the centuries.
Catherine Middleton: 2022 - present
Catherine Middleton is the current Princess of Wales through her marriage to William, Prince of Wales, after she was was given the title in 2022.
Her father-in-law King Charles III bestowed the Prince and Princess of Wales titles to his son and daughter-in-law when he ascended the throne.
Catherine is technically the first royal to hold the historic title in 25 years since her late mother-in-law Diana Spencer after Charles' second wife Camilla opted to not use it.
Camilla Parker-Bowles: 2005 - 2022
Queen Camilla was technically the next Princess of Wales after Diana Spencer through her marriage to then-Prince Charles in 2005.
However, the now Queen opted to not use the title out of respect for Diana, instead going by the Duchess of Cornwall up until she became Queen Consort Camilla in 2022.
Mary of Teck: 1901 - 1910
When Alexandra of Denmark and her husband Edward VII became King and Queen consort in 1901, the Prince and Princess of Wales titles were bestowed to their son George V and his wife Mary of Teck.
Mary of Teck was the Princess of Wales for a decade before her husband inherited the throne in 1910 following her father-in-law's death.
Mary was then the Queen consort of the United Kingdom from 1910 to 1936 when her husband died.
Alexandra of Denmark
Christian IX of Denmark's daughter, Alexandra of Denmark, was the longest in history to hold the title of Princess of Wales for nearly four decades.
Alexandra became the Princess of Wales when she married Albert Edward, Prince of Wales in 1863.
She kept the title right up until 1901 when her husband ascended the throne after the death of Queen Victoria, making her the Queen consort until Edward's death in 1910.
Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel: 1795 - 1820
Decades after the first Caroline, Princess of Wales, Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel became next in line to inherit the title.
Caroline became the Princess of Wales in 1795 when she married King George III's son, George Augustus Frederick.
When her now estranged husband ascended the throne in 1820, she technically became the Queen consort of Great Britain and Ireland until her death a year later in 1821.
Augusta of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg: 1736 - 1751
Augusta of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg became the next Princess of Wales in 1736 when she wed Frederick, Prince of Wales, who was the son of King George II.
Augusta kept the title for nearly two decades before her husband's death in 1751.
Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach: 1714 - 1727
Two centuries after Catherine of Aragon held the title, Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach became the next Princess of Wales in 1714.
Caroline and her husband Prince George Augustus of Hanover were bestowed the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales when King George I ascended the throne.
She would hold the title until her husband became king in 1727, becoming Queen consort of Great Britain and Ireland.
Catherine of Aragon: 1501 - 1502
After several decades, Catherine of Aragon became the next Princess of Wales.
Before she was Queen of England through her marriage to King Henry VI, Catherine was married to Henry's older brother Arthur, Prince of Wales.
Catherine held the title of Princess of Wales throughout her first marriage from 1501 to 1502, when her husband died.
Anne of Warwick: 1470 - 1471
Anne Neville, who was the daughter of the 16th Earl of Warwick, became the next Princess of Wales through her marriage to the Prince of Wales, Edward of Westminster in 1470.
However, she only kept the role shortly until 1471 when her husband died.
Anne would later be crowned Queen of England in 1483 through her second marriage to King Richard III, up until her death in 1485.
View more galleries
Most viewed in Royals
Prince William and Kate back return to official duties with subtle nod to Prince Harry
Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet start school in the UK: reports
Fresh blow for Prince Harry days after King’s letter clarifying his and Meghan’s royal status
Prince Harry source says country’s withdrawal from Invictus Games was a ‘consequence’ of King’s letter
