Long before she became the elegant Princess of Wales known officially as “Catherine,” insiders say the future queen was called something far more ordinary inside royal walls — and Prince William reportedly never stopped using it. The revelation is now sparking fresh fascination with the couple’s private life behind palace doors.
Princess Kate Middleton may carry one of the most prestigious titles in the world today, but according to former royal butler Grant Harrold, inside the royal household she was always simply known as “Kate.”
Harrold, who worked for King Charles for seven years and frequently assisted Prince William and Kate during visits to Highgrove, revealed that the nickname was commonly used long before the royal wedding in 2011.
“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.”
The former royal aide also claimed that even after officially joining the monarchy, the princess personally preferred the more relaxed version of her name in private.
“When I first met her, she introduced herself to me as Kate, and asked me to call her that,” he revealed.
Royal fans may remember that Prince William publicly referred to his future wife as “Kate” throughout their famous engagement interview in 2010. However, after the couple’s lavish Westminster Abbey wedding in 2011, public appearances and official palace communications gradually shifted toward the more formal “Catherine.”
According to Harrold, that royal evolution may not stop there.
He believes that once Prince William eventually ascends the throne, the Princess of Wales could officially become known as “Queen Catherine.”
The surprising revelation comes as Kate recently stepped back into the spotlight during Buckingham Palace’s latest garden party, where she and Prince William welcomed nearly 8,000 guests onto the palace lawns.
During conversations with attendees, the princess offered rare and relatable glimpses into life at home with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis — including the chaos caused by the family’s new puppy, Otto.
According to HELLO!, Kate joked that the energetic dog has already caused destruction around the house.
“He unfortunately chewed quite a lot the other day,” she laughed before adding, “You have to keep them busy.”
The princess also revealed the first question in the Wales household each morning is often: “Has anyone taken Otto out?”
Kate additionally shared that she has recently become a fan of padel, the fast-growing sport often described as a mix between tennis and squash.
“I love padel. It’s such a good game,” she said enthusiastically. “Such a great leveller for those who don’t play tennis.”
The lighthearted family updates arrive after an incredibly emotional year for the Princess of Wales.
In 2024, Kate publicly revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer before later confirming she had completed chemotherapy treatment. She has since announced that she is now in remission.
Sources say Otto has brought “great joy” to the Wales family during one of the most difficult chapters of Kate’s life.
Now, as the princess prepares for her first solo overseas working trip since her diagnosis, public interest surrounding her personal life — and even the name she is called behind palace doors — appears stronger than ever.
