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These days, Catherine, Princess of Wales is formally known by her royal title, but to many people around the world she is still affectionately referred to as “Kate Middleton.” While the royal household appears to prefer the use of Catherine, the nickname has remained deeply associated with her public image.
Now, a former royal staff member has revealed that even behind palace walls, she was commonly known simply as “Kate.”
Grant Harrold, who worked for King Charles III for seven years, shared insight into how the Princess was addressed during her early years with the royal family. During his time at Highgrove House, Harrold also assisted Prince William, Prince Harry, and Kate whenever they stayed there.
Speaking on behalf of Smooth Spins, he explained: “She was always known as Kate. William always called her Kate. This ‘Catherine’ thing only began after the wedding.”
He continued: “I think after their coronation, she will be Queen Catherine. But until then, it was always Kate behind the scenes. I used to call her Kate … When I first met her, she introduced herself to me as Kate — and asked me to call her that.”
Royal fans may also remember that Prince William himself frequently referred to her as “Kate” before their marriage.
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After announcing their engagement in 2010, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales sat down for a widely watched joint interview, during which William affectionately referred to his fiancée as “Kate” several times.
Since their wedding, however, the Prince of Wales has largely stopped using the nickname in public, instead referring to her as “Catherine.” Because of that, the engagement interview remains one of the last occasions where William was publicly heard calling her “Kate.”
