Photo by Ian Jones, FCO via Flickr

Many know Prince William and Catherine as the Prince and Princess of Wales. In Scotland, many know them under a different name – the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay.

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, William and Catherine were no longer known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after they inherited their new titles of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. In addition, they inherited the title of the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland – a change from the Scottish title of Earl and Countess of Strathearn they were granted upon their wedding in 2011. (They were later bestowed the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales by the King during a televised address to the nation).

The dukedom dates back to 1398 when the son of Robert III of Scotland, David Stewart, first held the title. After his death, his brother James, who later became King James I, received the dukedom. From there, the heir apparent to the Scottish Crown inherited the dukedom. In 1469, an Act of the Parliament of Scotland confirmed the succession pattern.

During the 1603 union of the crowns and Edward VII’s time as the heir apparent, the style of the Duke of Rothesay appeared to drop out of usage in favour of the Prince of Wales title. Queen Victoria mandated the title be used to refer to her oldest son and the heir apparent when they are in Scotland. Since then, the usage has continued.

The 1469 Act of the Parliament of Scotland states if the first-born “Prince of the King of Scots for ever” should hold dukedom, and if they die before they are king, the heir does not inherit the title. This is because the title is only for the first-born son. If their brother becomes heir apparent, only then will they obtain the title.

Unless the title succession guidelines change before the Duke of Rothesay becomes King, his oldest son, Prince George, is expected to inherit his father’s title when the Duke becomes King.