Friends of Prince William and Kate Middleton have reportedly said that the Prince of Wales is “irritated” by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to refer to his wife as ‘Kate’ rather than her preferred name, ‘Catherine,’ according to the Daily Beast.
The reported annoyance stems from a public statement made by Harry and Meghan in March 2024, after Kate disclosed her illness.The statement read, “We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace.” William’s friends suggest that this choice of name was perceived as a deliberate slight, given that Kate has chosen to be known as Catherine in formal and personal contexts.
One friend was quoted by the Daily Beast as saying, “William takes offense at people calling Catherine ‘Kate,’ because she has asked to be known as Catherine. It’s a fairly simple wish to respect. I’m sure Meghan wouldn’t like it if William started publicly calling her ‘Meghan Markle.’”
Kate Middleton’s preference for ‘Catherine’
Kate Middleton has long preferred to be addressed as Catherine, a choice respected by her close circle and Prince William. Although she was widely known as Kate in her early years, she opted to use her full name, Catherine, before her marriage. This preference extends to official and social settings, despite continued media references to her as Kate Middleton, particularly in the US.
The friend continued, “It’s an utterly trivial thing, but those of us who know William know that it is one of the things that pushes his buttons. Pushing his buttons while he was going through his wife’s cancer seemed an entirely unnecessary and deliberate irritation.”
Another close friend of the Waleses added, “No one’s saying it’s responsible for all the trouble, but deliberately calling someone by a name they don’t like is just bloody rude. If Harry and Meghan were serious about healing their issue, a good first step would be to call her Catherine.”
Brothers’ rift and future reconciliation
The ongoing rift between William and Harry continues to garner attention. A friend of William’s told the UK Sunday Times that the brothers’ estrangement is “dreadfully sad,” while royal author Christopher Andersen expressed hope for reconciliation. Andersen suggested that despite the tensions, William might eventually extend an olive branch to Harry, even including him in his coronation.
As the royal family navigates these strained relationships, the use of names and titles remains a sensitive issue, reflecting deeper undercurrents of personal and public diplomacy.
The reported annoyance stems from a public statement made by Harry and Meghan in March 2024, after Kate disclosed her illness.The statement read, “We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace.” William’s friends suggest that this choice of name was perceived as a deliberate slight, given that Kate has chosen to be known as Catherine in formal and personal contexts.
One friend was quoted by the Daily Beast as saying, “William takes offense at people calling Catherine ‘Kate,’ because she has asked to be known as Catherine. It’s a fairly simple wish to respect. I’m sure Meghan wouldn’t like it if William started publicly calling her ‘Meghan Markle.’”
Kate Middleton’s preference for ‘Catherine’
Kate Middleton has long preferred to be addressed as Catherine, a choice respected by her close circle and Prince William. Although she was widely known as Kate in her early years, she opted to use her full name, Catherine, before her marriage. This preference extends to official and social settings, despite continued media references to her as Kate Middleton, particularly in the US.
The friend continued, “It’s an utterly trivial thing, but those of us who know William know that it is one of the things that pushes his buttons. Pushing his buttons while he was going through his wife’s cancer seemed an entirely unnecessary and deliberate irritation.”
Another close friend of the Waleses added, “No one’s saying it’s responsible for all the trouble, but deliberately calling someone by a name they don’t like is just bloody rude. If Harry and Meghan were serious about healing their issue, a good first step would be to call her Catherine.”
Brothers’ rift and future reconciliation
The ongoing rift between William and Harry continues to garner attention. A friend of William’s told the UK Sunday Times that the brothers’ estrangement is “dreadfully sad,” while royal author Christopher Andersen expressed hope for reconciliation. Andersen suggested that despite the tensions, William might eventually extend an olive branch to Harry, even including him in his coronation.
As the royal family navigates these strained relationships, the use of names and titles remains a sensitive issue, reflecting deeper undercurrents of personal and public diplomacy.
