Prince William and Kate Middleton’s royal role expanded exponentially in 2025.It will continue to do so in 2026, as the Prince and Princess of Wales are set to grant their first Royal Warrants, a prestigious honor that recognizes companies and individuals for providing goods and services to the royal family.In doing so, Kate will become the first Princess of Wales to grant a Royal Warrant in 116 years—not even Princess Diana had the opportunity to do so.

In 2025, both Prince William and Kate Middleton stepped even more into their power as Prince and Princess of Wales, and 2026 will see them do the same—particularly in the form of taking on a major royal duty beginning next year.

Prince William and Kate Middleton on May 20, 2025.

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Beginning in 2026, the couple will have the power to grant prestigious Royal Warrants, which is essentially an official seal of approval given to individuals and companies whose goods and services royals employ. Ever since her blue Issa wrap dress sold out after wearing it to announce her engagement on November 16, 2010, the “Kate Middleton effect” has bolstered numerous businesses—and Kate’s new ability to grant Royal Warrants will no doubt have a huge impact, particularly on fashion and beauty brands she officially backs and supports.

Longtime royal journalist Richard Palmer called Royal Warrants “the gold standard of endorsements,” and told Town & Country of the Princess of Wales that “Kate’s warrant will be especially sought after.”

Kate Middleton at VE Day celebrations on May 8, 2025.

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King Charles granted the Prince and Princess of Wales the ability to grant Royal Warrants earlier this year, a chance to publicly and officially endorse their favorite brands. As grantors of Royal Warrants, the two have the power to bestow a Royal Warrant of Appointment to a company or individual that has supplied “products or services on a regular and ongoing basis” to the Royal Household for at least five of the last seven years, according to the Royal Warrant Holders Association’s website. Per E! News, after King Charles and Queen Camilla took the throne in 2022, they have awarded nearly 600 Royal Warrants.

Once a company or an individual is granted a Royal Warrant, they are then given “the right to display the appropriate Royal Arms on their product, packaging, stationary, advertising, premises, and vehicles” for the five-year warrant period. Immediate fashion brands that come to mind as contenders for the Princess of Wales’s official seal of approval include Alexander McQueen, Catherine Walker, Jenny Packham, and more—but nothing is official just yet.

Prince William and Kate Middleton on December 3, 2025.

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“There is a large swath of royal watchers who came to follow the royal family through her and, importantly, shop the brands she wears,” Elizabeth Holmes, author of HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style, told Town & Country of Kate. “I think the princess now being able to grant Royal Warrants will introduce this honor in a new way to a new generation of royal watchers.”

In granting a Royal Warrant, Kate will become the first Princess of Wales to do so in 116 years—the last Princess of Wales to do so was in 1910, The Times reported. Not even Princess Diana, who famously carried the Princess of Wales title beginning in 1981, ever granted a Royal Warrant. The last Princess of Wales to undertake the prestigious honor was Queen Mary, who issued them before her husband King George V took the throne in 1910.

Princess Diana.

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Queen Camilla, when given the opportunity to grant Royal Warrants, gave one to her wedding dress designer, facialist, and hairdresser of over 30 years. Kate’s opportunity to do so will likely happen in 2026, as “She’s keen to recognize British skills and industry,” The Times reported.

“We’ve seen the Princess of Wales have a huge impact on brands, often referred to as ‘the Kate effect,’” Nicola Pink, founder of the public relations and marketing firm We Are Pink, told The Times. “What makes it so powerful is that it has always felt genuine—she chooses brands she truly likes or wants to support.”

Kate Middleton on March 17, 2025.

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Per Marie Claire, companies and individuals submitted their initial applications by the end of July of this year, “and warrants will be granted in early 2026,” the outlet reported.