Prince William is reportedly “irritated” with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for failing to respect a “fairly simple wish” regarding his wife, Kate Middleton. According to sources close to the Prince of Wales, the issue centers around the couple’s decision to publicly refer to William’s wife as ‘Kate’ instead of her preferred name, ‘Catherine,’ following her illness announcement in March 2024.
Friends of William and Kate have claimed that the Prince took particular offense when Harry and Meghan issued a public statement wishing Kate well during her illness, saying, “We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace.” The use of ‘Kate’ rather than ‘Catherine’ was reportedly perceived as a deliberate snub, with one friend noting, “The fact that Harry and Meghan were unable to bring themselves to use her chosen name, even when sending her get-well-soon messages after her cancer diagnosis, was noted.”
A close friend of William further explained the sensitivity of the issue, telling the Daily Beast, “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 emphasized that while it might seem trivial, it’s one of the things that “pushes William’s buttons,” especially during a time of heightened stress due to his wife’s health.
Kate Middleton, who was widely known as ‘Kate’ during her school and university years, made a conscious decision to switch to her full name, ‘Catherine,’ before her marriage to William. This preference has been respected by those close to her, and she introduces herself as Catherine in both official and social settings. However, many media outlets, particularly in the United States, continue to refer to her as Kate Middleton.
Another source close to the Waleses echoed the sentiment, stating, “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.”
The tension between the brothers is seen as “dreadfully sad” by those close to the family, with royal author Christopher Andersen expressing hope that William might eventually extend an olive branch to Harry. Andersen told Fox News Digital, “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.”