13 March 2024 , 11:43
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It has been a challenging few months for the Royal Family, with both King Charles and the Princess of Wales off-duty as they deal with health troubles, and the few working royals that remain striving to fill in the gaps left in their absence.
This difficult period for the royals comes not even two years after the sad death of Queen Elizabeth - an ever-popular figure who managed to successfully steer the monarchy through quite a few crises during her long reign.
When the late Queen died in 2022, and Charles took the throne, Kate made a sweet tribute to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, at the milestone moment.
On Charles becoming monarch, William and Kate were given new titles of the Prince and Princess of Wales and Kate reacted to her new royal title, saying she "appreciates the history associated with this role".
King Charles announced his daughter-in-law Kate would take the title, the first person to use it since the late Princess Diana, in his first speech since the Queen's death.
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He said: "As my Heir, William now assumes the Scottish titles which have meant so much to me. He succeeds me as Duke of Cornwall and takes on the responsibilities for the Duchy of Cornwall which I have undertaken for more than five decades. Today, I am proud to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I have been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty.
Kate was handed the famous title following the Queen's death (PA)"With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given."
Sharing Kate and William's reaction, a royal source said: "The couple are focussed on deepening the trust and respect of the people of Wales over time.
"The Prince and Princess of Wales will approach their roles in the modest and humble way they've approached their work previously. The new Princess of Wales appreciates the history associated with this role but will understandably want to look to the future as she creates her own path."
Princess Diana was handed the Princess of Wales title when she married Charles in 1981. While the now Queen Camilla could have technically used the title after she married Charles 17 years ago, she decided not to out of respect for the late royal.
Within minutes of Charles' speech, Kate and William's official Twitter account @kensingtonroyal changed to reflect the changes. The bio now reads: "The official account of The Prince and Princess of Wales and The Royal Foundation, based at Kensington Palace."
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Princess Louis started their new school on the day the Queen passed - with the family moving to Windsor from their London home only shortly before the royals lost their matriarch.
Charles also used his first speech as monarch to praise his wife Camilla and "express his love" for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Speaking of the Sussexes, he said: "I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas."
The new titles were a major milestone (PA)He praised Camilla's dedication to the royal family and the Monarchy, saying: "This is also a time of change for my family. I count on the loving help of my darling wife, Camilla. In recognition of her own loyal public service since our marriage seventeen years ago, she becomes my Queen Consort. I know she will bring to the demands of her new role the steadfast devotion to duty on which I have come to rely so much."
It was the Queen's wish for Camilla to become Consort, using her last Accession Day speech in February 2022 to say she wanted Charles's wife to be by his side.
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Charles ended his speech with a moving tribute to his mum: "To my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this: thank you. Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years. May ‘flights of angels sing thee to thy rest'."
On Mother's Day, Charles made another heartfelt tribute to his mother, posting a picture of the pair on the Royal Family's official social media channels, captioned: "Wishing all mothers and those who are missing their Mums today, a peaceful Mothering Sunday."
While Charles is not conducting public-facing duties as he undergoes regular treatment for cancer, he is still working behind closed doors, and released video messages as a way of staying in touch with the public: one saw the monarch opening get well soon cards and other messages of good wishes, and another to mark Commonwealth Day.
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