King Charles III granted his eldest son William and his son's wife Kate the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales on Friday, titles that he and his late wife Diana once held.

Diana was a highly popular figure, subjected to continuous media scrutiny since her wedding and afterwards, and was the subject of great sorrow when she died at the age of 36 in a car accident in 1997, five years after her separation from Charles.

A royal source said that Kate values the history associated with the title but will seek to create her own path as Princess of Wales.

Charles said in his first address to the nation since the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday that he was proud to make his heir William the Prince of Wales, a title Charles has held since 1958, stating: "With Catherine (Kate) by his side, our new Prince and Princess of Wales, as I know, will continue to inspire and lead our national conversations."

William and Kate, both 40, have also taken central roles within the royal family in recent years, appearing regularly in public and increasingly taking their three young children to events such as the Queen's Platinum Jubilee earlier this year.