‘She asked me to call her that’: The royals address Princess Catherine with ‘forbidden’ title behind the scenes, claims former royal butler

Kate Middleton will one day be queen

Princess Kate Middleton may officially be known as Catherine, Princess of Wales these days, but according to a former royal butler, behind palace doors she was always simply “Kate”.

Former royal aide Grant Harrold worked for King Charles for seven years and regularly assisted both Prince William and Catherine during visits to Highgrove.

He has revealed the surprising nickname was widely used inside royal circles long before the couple married.
Princess Catherine is often dubbed ‘Kate’ in the press (Credit: Matt Crossick/Shutterstock)

Kate Middleton’s nickname behind the scenes

“She was always known as Kate,” Harrold told Showbiz Cheat Sheet on behalf of Smooth Spins. “William always called her Kate. This ‘Catherine’ thing only began after the wedding.”

He added that even after joining the royal family, the princess herself preferred the more relaxed version of her name behind the scenes.

“When I first met her, she introduced herself to me as Kate, and asked me to call her that,” he revealed.

Fans will remember that William publicly referred to his future wife as “Kate” throughout their engagement interview in 2010.

However, following their wedding at Westminster Abbey in 2011, the couple appeared to shift toward using the more formal “Catherine” in public appearances and official communications.

Harrold believes that could eventually evolve even further if William becomes king.

“I think after their coronation, she will be Queen Catherine,” he said.

William and Kate throw garden party

The revelation comes as the Princess of Wales attended the latest Buckingham Palace garden party.

Kate joined William in hosting around 8,000 guests on the palace lawns last weeked. She also opened up about family life, including the chaos caused by the Wales family’s new puppy, Otto.

According to HELLO!, the royal admitted the young dog has already caused havoc at home.
Kate recently shared a glimpse into her home life (Credit: Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
“He unfortunately chewed quite a lot the other day,” she laughed while chatting to guests, before joking: “You have to keep them busy.”

Kate also shared a relatable glimpse into mornings with children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

“The first thing we do in the morning is check, ‘Has anyone taken Otto out?’” she said.

The princess also revealed she has recently taken up padel. The popular racket sport is often described as a mix between tennis and squash.

“I love padel. It’s such a good game,” she gushed. “Such a great leveller for those who don’t play tennis.”

According to reports, Otto has brought “great joy” to the Wales household following Kate’s difficult health battle over the past year.

The princess announced in 2024 that she had been diagnosed with cancer before later confirming she had completed chemotherapy treatment. Last year, she revealed she is now in remission.

Now, the princess is preparing for another major milestone as she gears up for her first solo overseas working trip since her diagnosis.