Prince William has been bestowed the title of the 'Duke of Cambridge' by his grandmother THE QUEEN, reports the UK's Daily Telegraph. Prince William's bride Kate Middleton will be known as the 'Duchess of Cambridge' after the Royal Wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey today (29th April 2011).

A dukedom is the highest rank in the British peerage and the new titles were announced by Buckingham Palace at 8am this morning. The couple have also been given the Scottish titles of Earl and Countess of Strathearn, which could refer to the fact that they met at the historic St Andrews University. The couple's third new title is the Baron and Baroness of Carrickfergus. In a statement made earlier today, the palace confirmed, "The Queen has today been pleased to confer a Dukedom on Prince William of Wales. His titles will be Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus. Prince William thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge and Miss Catherine Middleton on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge". The dukedom comes as a slight surprise, as many commentators had assumed Prince William would become the 'Duke of Clarence' or the 'Duke of Sussex'.

If Prince William had turned down the titles, his wife Kate Middleton would have been known as HRH Princess William of Wales, rather than HRH Princess Catherine, as she is not a princess in her own right.