After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William and his wife received new titles. They went from being called the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to becoming the Prince and Princess of Wales. King Charles gave them these new titles as part of his changes as the new king. Now, their official names are William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales.
Before they got married, Catherine was known by the public as “Kate Middleton.” This was a name many people got used to because she and William met during their university days, and the media often called her “Kate.” However, both Catherine and William prefer her full name, “Catherine.” In fact, after their engagement in 2010, the couple talked about their relationship during an interview with journalist Tom Bradby. During that interview, William lovingly referred to her as “Kate” several times, which surprised people who knew they usually avoid using that nickname. After their wedding in 2011, William switched to calling her “Catherine” in public, respecting her preference. The interview became one of the last times people heard William use the nickname “Kate” in a public setting.
Even though Catherine is now officially the Princess of Wales, many members of the public still call her “Kate.” However, people close to her, especially in the royal family, usually use her full name or title out of respect. This is why a statement from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in March 2024 caused some controversy. Catherine had announced in a video message that she was diagnosed with cancer. Harry and Meghan responded with a public statement saying, “We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace.”
This message upset many royal followers for two reasons. First, some thought the message was too short and impersonal for such serious news. Second, they referred to her as “Kate” instead of “Catherine” or “Princess of Wales.” This felt disrespectful to some people because Catherine has made it clear she prefers not to be called “Kate.” A close friend of Prince William shared that he gets upset when people use “Kate” because Catherine has expressed her desire to be called by her proper name. The friend explained, “It’s a simple thing to respect her wishes. I’m sure Meghan wouldn’t like it if William started publicly calling her ‘Meghan Markle’ instead of just Meghan.”
