Reason why Kate Middleton was meant to change her name after she married Prince William – but didn’t
Would you change your name if the King asked you to?
Born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, Kate has been an official member of the Royal Family for 12 years.
When she married PrinceWilliam, there were talks about changing the way her first name was spelled.
According to Prince Harry, in his memoir Spare, King Charles and Queen Camilla suggested Kate spell her full name, Catherine, with a K instead of a C.
This is because “there were already too many first names in the family beginning with a C” and Charles and Camilla were apparently concerned this would cause confusion – especially when it came to their cyphers – the personal monogram of a member of the Royal Family.
In his book, Harry wrote: “There were already two royal cyphers with a C and a crown above: Charles and Camilla.
“It would be too confusing to have another.”
Whilst the Princess of Wales is known to millions across the world as Kate, she officially goes by Catherine.
According to royal expert Adam Helliker, the shift from Kate to Catherine happened whilst she was dating Prince William, just in case they got married and a royal life awaited her.
Helliker explained in a 2008 Sunday Express column that recently resurfaced: “I hear that in the past few weeks, the former accessories buyer has quietly informed friends that she would like to drop the informal ‘Kate’ and in future wishes to be known by her full name: ‘Catherine.’”
Apparently, recipients were aback, with friends of the now Princess reportedly telling Helliker at the time: “Everyone knows it’s about to happen with Kate and William, but we were a little surprised about the request to call her Catherine.
“There is a distinct feeling she has started to become very aware of her position.”
Some royal sources have reportedly disputed the claims.