The youngest of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s children, Prince Louis, is set to follow what may be deemed as a far from usual “family” tradition.
Louis, 4, will follow in the footsteps of his father with a bizarre name change later in life, alongside other title changes. Currently his official title is His Royal Highness Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge, and sits fifth-in-line to the throne.
However, when Prince William’s official title changes to the Prince of Wales once Prince Charles is crowned King, Prince Louis will immediately become Louis Wales, while also maintaining his full title.
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Louis will follow the footsteps of his father, who also used Wales as his last name at school and while working in the Royal Navy- this will be similar for Prince Louis’s elder siblings, George and Charlotte.
On the other hand, the children of first in line to the throne can use the Wales appendage if they volunteer to, as Prince Louis will also likely take a dukedom from one of his family members when he marries in the future.
It is predicted that the young royal is set to inherit the Duke of York title from Prince Andrew if he is no longer living on the day Prince Louis weds. This is because according to Royal tradition, the Duke of York title is typically given to the monarch’s second-oldest son.
Meanwhile, Prince George is in line to become the Prince of Wales and would be the 28th incumbent to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather Prince Charles and father Prince William. In the same circumstance as uncle Prince Harry, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte will most likely have their surnames reverted back to Mountbatten-Windsor family name when their older brother becomes the Prince of Wales.
Prince Harry currently uses the Mountbatten-Windsor surname and has even passed it down to his two children, Archie and Lilibet.
Traditionally, the children of dukes use the dukedom as their last name, for example Cambridge or Sussex.
