Kate Middleton Once Asked Her Friends to Call Her by a Different Name—And I Totally Get It

Many people call her Kate Middleton , but it should come as no surprise to royal fans that she actually prefers to be called something else.

According to royal biographer Robert Jobson’s latest book, Catherine, the Princess of Wales , Middleton sent a playful email to her friends back in 2008, asking them to call her by her birth name, Catherine, instead of the more informal “Kate,” People reports.

The outlet adds that Jobson’s book drew from a 2008 article by Sunday Express columnist Adam Helliker, who revealed Kate’s “humorous email to her close friends.” This request, Jobson noted, only fueled rumors that Prince William was about to propose.

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In his book, Jobson also discusses whether her decision to go by Catherine was a personal choice or part of a broader preparation for her role as Prince William’s future wife. But that wasn’t the only time Princess Catherine put thought into what she should be called.

After Queen Elizabeth II’s passing in September 2022, King Charles appointed Prince William and Princess Catherine as the new Prince and Princess of Wales. However, there was a brief moment when Catherine considered not using the title that once belonged to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana .

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Jobson’s book reveals that Catherine was concerned about the inevitable comparisons to Diana, known as “The People’s Princess,” whose tragic death in 1997 left a lasting legacy.

The stress of these comparisons led Catherine to contemplate following the example of Queen Camilla , who chose to be known as the Duchess of Cornwall, to avoid the emotional weight of the Princess of Wales title. Ultimately, Catherine embraced the title.

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