This esoteric for one; was not surprised when it was announced this morning that Prince William had been created the Duke of Cambridge. Of all the abeyant ducal titles, the one of Cambridge made the most sense with being the one chosen; since it has the strongest familial connection with the modern day Royal House of Windsor.
Her Majesty Queen Mary, consort of His Majesty King George V, was a granddaughter to one Duke of Cambridge, and the niece of the last English prince to hold this particular title. Queen Mary’s mother, the larger than life public figure, both literally and figuratively, Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck; brought this descent into the Windsor line.
Prince Adolphus Frederick, Duke of Cambridge
Prince George, 2nd Duke of Cambridge
Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck
The royal scuttlebutt; was and has been for quite some time; that Prince William was intent upon declining a ducal title, preferring to retain the more familiar and simpler moniker of Prince William of Wales! It is not the place of this esoteric to say whether or not this particular mindset was possessed and entertained by the prince, it would not be too far a stretch to consider the validity, based on his no nonsense approach to the fussiness of his position. However, with his placement so close to the throne, it was not really in the royal cards for such a drastic break with tradition to take place at the very epicenter of the royal pecking order.
Even further from reality was the possibility that Catherine Middleton would be created a princess in her own right! This is rarely done, and in reality has only happened on a handful of occasions. After all, it is not surprising that a royal house would be a bit ‘gun shy’ when it comes to bestowing such titles, as one never knows when those newly titled family members, can suddenly become a loose cannon. And as wife to the second in-line to the English throne, H.R.H. Princess William of Wales, is a bit cumbersome on the tongue and in the past has been used for the wives of the grandsons in the royal male line, for instance, H.R.H. Princess Michael of Kent.
Those facts aside, one of the main reasons that princes’ of the realm were granted peerages in the first place dealt with a very ‘cut and dried’ reason. Simply put, the title is utilized to transition younger males from the collateral branches of the extended royal family into mainstream society. Essentially, children and grandchildren of the sovereign, descended from the male line, are entitled to the H.R.H. predicate and the title of prince or princess of the realm. As each generation is one step further removed from the throne, the closer they become to wearing the mantle of ‘commoner status’ albeit under the guise of nobility. Currently, H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester and H.R.H. The Duke of Kent are such living examples of this practice. Their children all hold titles and precedence based on that derived from being the children of a duke. Once a upon a time, such a peerage would have allowed the prince a seat in the House of Lords, however, since the tradition bashing Tony Blair found the entire concept of an upper house archaic, it is a moot point at this stage.
With this idea in mind, a few generations from now there is a very real possibility that the descendents in the male line from His Majesty King William V and Her Majesty Queen Catherine, will be simply titled Master/Mister Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Mountbatten–Windsor, descended from the Duke’s of Cambridge, or any other noble titles bestowed on future generations of William and Kate’s male progeny.
In the meantime, there is a new, and charmingly beautiful member of the British royal family. Huzza Huzza, for H.R.H. The Duchess of Cambridge. Oh yeh, and the duke too!
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS ISSUED
BY THE PRESS SECRETARY TO THE QUEEN
The Queen has today been pleased to confer a Dukedom on Prince William of Wales. His titles will be Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus.
Prince William thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge and Miss Catherine Middleton on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.
Background:
DUKEDOM: Cambridge:
In 1706 George Augustus (subsequently George II) the only son of George Ludwig, Elector of Hanover (subsequently George I of Great Britain) was created with other titles Duke of Cambridge. On the accession of his father to the throne in 1714 he also became Duke of Cornwall and was created Prince of Wales. On his own accession to the throne in 1727 the Dukedom of Cambridge merged with The Crown and ceased.
Cambridge was previously a Royal Dukedom and four sons of James, Duke of York (afterwards James II) who died in infancy were all created Duke of Cambridge. As an Earldom Cambridge was a medieval Royal title. Edward IV was Duke of York and Earl of Cambridge till proclaimed King of England in 1461 when his titles merged with The Crown.
His father and grandfather both Richard Plantagenet were both Earls of Cambridge and the latter was also Duke of York. Edmund of Langley, 5th son of Edward III and great-grandfather of Edward IV, was created Earl of Cambridge in 1362 and Duke of York in 1385.
The Dukedom of Cambridge created in 1801 became extinct on the death of the 2nd Duke of Cambridge in 1904. Cambridge existed as a Marquessate from 1917 when it was conferred on Queen Mary’s brother till 1981 when the 2nd Marquess died and the title became extinct.
EARLDOM: Strathearn
Strathearn has had Royal connections since Robert Stewart, High Steward of Scotland, was created Earl of Strathearn in 1357. In 1371 he succeeded his Uncle as King of Scotland becoming Robert II and the Earldom merged with The Crown Robert II created his 5th son David, Earl of Strathearn in 1371. Subsequently in 1427 the 6th son of Robert II was created Earl of Strathearn.
In 1766 George III’s younger brother Prince Henry Frederick was created Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn. He died without issue in 1790 and in 1799 Queen Victoria’s father was created Duke of Kent and Strathearn. These Dukedoms became extinct on his death in 1820. Finally, Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert, 3rd son of Queen Victoria was created Duke of Connaught and Strathearn in 1874. He died in 1942 and was succeeded by his grandson who died the following year 1943 since when Strathearn as a title has been extinct.
BARONY: Carrickfergus:
An Irish Viscountcy of Chichester of Carrickfergus now held by the Marquess of Donegall was created in 1625 but Carrickfergus alone only existed as a title between 1841 and 1883. The 3rd Marquess of Donegall was created Baron Ennishowen and Carrickfergus, of Ennishowen, co: Donegal and Carrickfergus, co: Antrim. He died in 1883 being succeeded by his brother and the Barony became extinct.
Carrickfergus is County Antrim’s oldest town. The word means Rock of Fergus and as an urban settlement it predates Belfast. It is on the north shore of Belfast Lough and is the site of Carrickfergus Castle which dates from circa 1180 and is one of the best preserved Castles in Ireland.
NR
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