In a move that departs from long-standing royal protocol, King Charles has now extended additional authority to his daughter-in-law. From spring this year, the Princess of Wales will be permitted to issue royal warrants of approval, a privilege usually restricted to the reigning monarch and their spouse.
To do so, both William and Kate will first be formally appointed as Grantors of Royal Warrants, a process expected to be completed in the coming weeks. Historically, this power has rarely been shared beyond the sovereign and consort, and while some monarchs have selectively extended it to other family members, Charles had not previously done so.
By granting this authority to Kate, the King has made her the first Princess of Wales in 116 years to hold the power to issue royal warrants. Royal commentators view the decision as a strong signal of confidence and respect, particularly given the Princess’s consistently high public approval ratings alongside William in recent YouGov polling.
What the new power actually means
