Prince William Finally Gave Up One Of The Saddest Titles To Hand Over To Prince Louis!
The British royal family has long been a source of fascination, captivating people around the globe with its royal weddings, family feuds, and the dramas that often unfold within its walls. In a shocking new twist, Prince Louie—adored by royal fans worldwide for his expressive behavior—might one day inherit one of history’s most tragic titles, dating back to the late 17th century. This title, passed down from his father, has a deep history entwined with misfortune.
Senior members of the royal family hold numerous titles with centuries-old legacies. Each title has its own intriguing history. William, for instance, became the Prince of Wales when Charles was crowned king. Before that, he held three other titles, including the Duke of Cambridge. Even though he’s now known as the Prince of Wales, he is still also the Duke of Cambridge—a title that can only be passed down to one of his sons, George or Louie.
Many royal fans are unaware of the tragedies associated with the title of Duke of Cambridge. Originating in the reign of Charles II, William is only the eighth person to hold it. Charles II created this title in 1660, and within 17 years, it had already passed through four holders due to a succession of deaths.
The very first Duke of Cambridge was Charles Stewart, the eldest nephew of the king, who sadly died at just six months old. The next in line was his younger brother, James Stewart, who also passed away, believed to be from smallpox or the Bubonic plague. The king then named his third-oldest nephew, Edgar Stewart, Duke of Cambridge, but he died at age three. Their younger brother, Charles Stewart, was next but also tragically passed away at only 35 days old.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the title was left unused until 1706 when Queen Anne bestowed it on the future King George II as the fifth Duke of Cambridge. Later, it passed to George III’s seventh son, Prince Adolphus, and then to his son, Prince George, where it eventually became extinct after George’s death, as his marriage had violated the Royal Marriages Act of 1772.
Currently, the heir to the dukedom is Prince George, but whether he will inherit it depends on his father’s path to the throne and George’s own future marriage. If George becomes the Prince of Wales earlier than expected, Louie could become the next Duke of Cambridge. Otherwise, Louie might receive a different title, such as the Duke of York, traditionally held by the monarch’s second son.
The youngest of the Wales children, Prince Louie, didn’t disappoint during the Trooping the Colour ceremony this year. In one of his many animated displays, he was caught on camera scrunching his face as his mother crouched down to speak to him on the balcony at Horse Guards Parade. Not entirely engaged by the parade, the cheeky six-year-old even tugged on the blinds, chatted with his mother, and, at one point, tried to open the window next to the Duchess of Edinburgh, gripping the frame in his attempt to pull it up.
Prince Louie, known for his expressive demeanor, has not yet attended Wimbledon, though his older siblings have. Recently, Princess Charlotte joined her mother and aunt, Pippa Middleton, in the Royal Box to watch the Wimbledon men’s singles finals. Five years ago, the Princess of Wales graciously received a signed pair of Adidas Stan Smith trainers from the 1972 Wimbledon men’s singles champion, Stan Smith. These sporty shoes, likely considered priceless, are kept in Louie’s wardrobe and are unlikely to be worn. Though he doesn’t yet grasp their history, he may one day treasure them as a teenager.
