Prince William irritated by Harry and Meghan’s use of ‘Kate’
William annoyed by Harry and Meghan's refusal to call her Catherine
Friends of Prince William and Kate Middleton have disclosed that the Prince of Wales feels quite “irritated” with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for referring to his wife as ‘Kate’ instead of ‘Catherine’. This sentiment surfaced after Harry and Meghan issued a public statement wishing her well following her illness in March 2024. They stated, “We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace.”
A close friend of William’s noted that the use of ‘Kate’ was seen as a deliberate choice. “Harry and Meghan couldn’t bring themselves to use her chosen name, even in a get-well message after her cancer diagnosis,” the friend commented. “William dislikes people calling Catherine ‘Kate’ because she prefers to be known as Catherine. Respecting that is simple. I doubt Meghan would appreciate William calling her ‘Meghan Markle’ publicly.”
Kate has long favoured being called Catherine, a name used by her inner circle, family, and William. Though she was widely known as Kate during her school and university days, she decided to use her full name, Catherine, before marrying William. This choice is respected by those close to her, and she introduces herself as Catherine in both official and social contexts. However, many media outlets, especially in the United States, still refer to her as Kate Middleton.
Finally a story about the #PrinceOfPegging & #KKKate that doesn’t make them look like petty entitled privileged out of touch whyte people. 🙄#SussexSquad
William Furious Harry ‘Deliberately’ Calls Catherine ‘Kate’ https://t.co/XZnEkMJOrm via @thedailybeast
— Denise Henwood (@DeniseHenwood) August 20, 2024
A friend elaborated on William’s reaction, “It’s trivial, but those who know William are aware it pushes his buttons. Irritating him during his wife’s cancer battle seemed unnecessary. I wonder if their private card began, ‘Dear Kate…’”
Another friend close to the Waleses added, “Deliberately calling someone by a name they dislike is just rude. If Harry and Meghan want to mend their relationship, calling her Catherine would be a good first step.”
In an interview, a close associate of William told the UK Sunday Times that the brothers’ rift is “dreadfully sad.” Royal author Christopher Andersen expressed hope that William might eventually extend an olive branch to Harry. “Despite all the bad blood between them, I believe William won’t exclude his only sibling, who is now fifth in line to the throne, from his coronation,” Andersen told Fox News Digital.
Other Perspective
- Sky News reports that Prince William is upset over an insensitive message from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, calling it “entirely unnecessary and bloody rude”.(read more)
- The Daily Beast reports that Prince William is furious that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle still refer to Kate Middleton as “Kate” rather than her preferred name Catherine.(read more)
- NZ Herald reports that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have ignored Princess Kate’s wishes, infuriating Prince William.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why is Prince William irritated with Harry and Meghan?
William is irritated because Harry and Meghan called his wife ‘Kate’ instead of ‘Catherine’.
What name does Kate Middleton prefer to be called?
She prefers to be called Catherine.
Why does William prefer people to call her Catherine?
William respects her preference to be called Catherine, a name she chose before their marriage.
Did Harry and Meghan’s message to Kate include her preferred name?
No, they referred to her as ‘Kate’ in their get-well-soon message.
Will Prince William invite Harry to his coronation?
Despite their issues, it’s believed William will not exclude Harry from his coronation.
