# Where did Charles, Prince of Wales, get his name from?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-charles-prince-of-wales-get-his-name-from/624242>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 6, 2012, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-charles-prince-of-wales-get-his-name-from/624242 "2012-06-06T05:06:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-charles-prince-of-wales-get-his-name-from/624242/41 "2012-06-09T23:07:05Z")

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> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> Wouldn’t the title of Duke of Cornwall pass on to William, the new heir apparent, and thereby make Catherine the Duchess of Cornwall?

No. Only the eldest living son of the monarch can be the Duke of Cornwall. William could be made the Prince of Wales, but he can never be the Duke of Cornwall (or Rothesay) if his father isn’t the king.

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**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-charles-prince-of-wales-get-his-name-from/624242/42 "2012-06-09T23:16:27Z")

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> [@Lord\_Feldon](#):
>
> No. Only the eldest living son of the monarch can be the Duke of Cornwall. William could be made the Prince of Wales, but he can never be the Duke of Cornwall (or Rothesay) if his father isn’t the king.

Thanks – I stand corrected. However, I think it has to be the person who:  
(1) is the oldest living son of the monarch, and  
(2) is the heir apparent to the throne.

So, if Charles were to die tomorrow, there would be no Duke of Cornwall – the oldest living son, the Duke of York, would not get the title – and Camilla would remain dowager Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay.

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