Everything That Could Happen To Kate Middleton When Prince William Becomes King

In light of news that King Charles III's funeral plans are getting an update, it's easy to think about what will happen to the throne when the monarch dies. As the heir to the throne, William, Prince of Wales, is in line to become the new king. But, what about Catherine, Princess of Wales? What exactly will Charles' death mean for her? And, how might her absence from the public eye affect this? Whether the end of Charles' reign is coming soon, or he has a long future as king ahead of him, Kate Middleton's role in the change is likely already set in stone. 

In April 2024, the Daily Beast reported that a friend of the royal family described Charles' current health situation as "not good." The source added that the king is "determined to beat [cancer] and they are throwing everything at it. Everyone is staying optimistic, but he is really very unwell. More than they are letting on." As the world saw with Queen Elizabeth II's passing, the response to the death of a monarch is very calculated and well-planned. According to a source, "The queen's funeral went like clockwork and set a high bar. It's not an emotional thing, it's a job, one taken very seriously..." When it comes to carrying out this job, no one is quite as important as the future king and queen. 

When King Charles III dies, a plan called Operation Menai Bridge will be carried out. Since the monarchy can never be without a monarch, one of the most important parts of the plan after Charles' death is Prince William's immediate ascension to the throne. Most likely, the formal coronation will not take place immediately, but Charles will pass the proverbial baton to William the moment he dies. As William takes on the role of king, Kate Middleton will also immediately take on her new role. Kate will become queen consort, but her formal title is still up for debate. A transition from "Catherine, Princess of Wales" to "Queen Catherine" is the most likely change in title that will happen.

The royal family's official website gets specific about what, exactly, the queen consort is. Primarily, the queen consort is a supportive companion to the monarch and doesn't have an official role in the British government.The monarchy's complex rules don't require anything specific of Kate other than to support William in his new role. Yet, evidently, her presence at William's side throughout the transition will be important. And, as Kate is in recovery and staying out of the limelight after her cancer diagnosis, this may present difficulties should Operation Menai Bridge roll out anytime soon. 

Kate Middleton's title will change forever when she becomes the queen consort. At that time, the title of Prince George — Kate and Prince William's oldest child — will change, as well. William will pass on his current title, Prince of Wales, to his son. George will then be next in line for the throne. Whenever William dies and George takes over as king, if Kate is still alive, she will become known as queen mother. 

Part of the monarchy's job is to provide a sense of stability to the people over which it reigns, and as such, the members of the royal family have to remain stable — at least as far as the public is concerned — even in the face of struggle and change. This has been particularly challenging for the royals as of late, as health issues and interpersonal drama have taken precedence over the public's approval. Rumors about Kate's health crisis have drawn suspicion and sparked a mistrust in the monarchy. A major change like Charles' death and the subsequent domino effect throughout the royal family certainly would not be coming at a good time if it were to happen over the course of the next few months. Yet, Kate's transition to queen consort is important enough that she may need to resume her royal duties sooner than planned.