Prince William is reportedly “irritated” with his brother, Prince Harry, and sister-in-law, Meghan Markle, for failing to honor what he sees as a “fairly simple wish” regarding his wife, Kate Middleton. The issue? The use of the name “Kate” instead of “Catherine,” is a preference that has been long-established by the Princess of Wales.
According to a report by the Daily Beast, friends close to William and Kate have shared that the Prince of Wales was notably offended when Harry and Meghan referred to his wife as “Kate” in a public statement in March 2024. The statement was intended to offer well wishes after Kate revealed her illness: “We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace.”
However, the use of “Kate” rather than “Catherine” didn’t sit well with William. An old friend of the prince explained, “The fact that Harry and Meghan were unable to bring themselves to use her chosen name, even when they were sending her get-well-soon messages after her cancer diagnosis, was noted.”
William’s irritation stems from the fact that Catherine has explicitly chosen to be known by her full name, a choice that has been respected by those close to her, including Prince William. “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,’” the friend told the Daily Beast.
Although Catherine was widely known as “Kate” during her school and university years, she made a deliberate switch to her full name before her marriage to William. Today, she introduces herself as Catherine in both official and social settings. Despite this, media outlets, particularly in the United States, continue to refer to her as Kate Middleton.
Another friend of the couple elaborated on William’s reaction, saying, “Of course, 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.”
The situation underscores the ongoing tension between the two brothers, with some close to the Waleses suggesting that this seemingly minor issue is symptomatic of larger problems. “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,” one friend commented, via Sky News. “If Harry and Meghan were serious about healing their issue, a good first step would be to call her Catherine.”
Despite the ongoing rift, some remain hopeful for reconciliation. A close friend of William told the UK Sunday Times that the estrangement between the brothers is “dreadfully sad,” while royal author Christopher Andersen speculated that William might eventually extend an olive branch. “Despite all the bad blood between the brothers, I’m convinced that, when the time does come, William will not be foolish enough to exclude his only sibling, now fifth in line to the throne, from his coronation,” Andersen told Fox News Digital.
The tension surrounding something as seemingly trivial as a name highlights the deep rift between the once-close brothers and the challenges that lie ahead in mending their relationship.