Kate Middleton and Prince William quietly shared a royal symbol that reflects their prestigious status as the Prince and Princess of Wales.
On Nov. 19, the Prince and Princess of Wales had a glamorous date night at the Royal Variety Performance at Royal Albert Hall in London, and the event brochure revealed something new: the couple’s shields from their Conjugal Coat of Arms within the Prince of Wales Coat of Arms.
The heraldic emblem was spotted in a dedication from the Royal Variety Charity to Prince William and Princess Kate, both 43, welcoming them and thanking them for attending. The Royal Variety Performance is the Royal Variety Charity’s signature fundraiser and an event the royal family has supported for over 100 years.
William and Kate first received their Conjugal Coat of Arms, which represents them in heraldic terms as a married couple, in 2013, and the latest iteration reflects their royal status now.
A page in the brochure from the 2025 Royal Variety Performance.The Prince and Princess of Wales
The regal emblem shows William’s badge on the left and Kate’s badge on the right, flanked by the Supporters of the Royal Lion and Unicorn, and the new elements are all about William’s position as the Prince of Wales.
The Conjugal Coat of Arms shown in the brochure features the Prince of Wales’ feathers, a symbol affiliated with the position since the 14th century, a coronet of the Prince and Peers and the Prince of Wales’ official motto Ich Dien, which is German for “I serve.” The ornamental emblem is topped by another coronet-wearing lion, with feathers around.
King Charles named Prince William as the Prince of Wales in his first speech as sovereign following his accession to the throne upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, in September 2022.
The Prince of Wales has been the traditional title for the male heir to the throne since around 1301, and William’s wife Kate became the Princess of Wales in the same sweep, taking on the title her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, was popularly known by during her marriage to Charles.
While William and Kate have been the Prince and Princess of Wales for over three years, their revised emblem was not widely seen until it surfaced in the Royal Variety Performance program, serving as a surprise from the night.
