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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find it annoying how Kate (Duchess of Cambridge) is referred to as Catherine?

262 replies

Dongdingdong · 12/01/2019 13:17

I read an interview with James Middleton today in which he referred to his sister as Catherine rather than Kate. Prince William also calls her Catherine in interviews.

I don't know why, but I find it mildly grating that since she got together with Prince William, her family and friends have suddenly begun referring to her by a different, longer version of her first name - especially when they presumably always called her Kate before, still do in private and everybody else refers to her as Kate anyway.

It just seems very contrived and a little pretentious or something I suppose. AIBU to wonder why Prince William and her family can't just call her Kate in public?

OP posts:
Grace212 · 12/01/2019 14:12

what a mad post.

BejamNostalgia · 12/01/2019 14:12

Meghan IS her real name. According to Wikipedia, she has two forenames and has chosen to use the second of them. Doesn't mean 'Meghan' isn't her "real" name.

You can’t have two forenames because they refer to the position the names are registered in - Rachel is registered first and Meghan is the middle position.

The Queen has also referred to her as Rachel in official documentation.

And Wiki isn’t a fucking authority. I could go and change it to say her real name was Geoff right now if I wanted to.

robininbrum · 12/01/2019 14:12

@Flugelhorn811

On another note, I also find those patronising "I couldn't muster up the energy to care.." etc posts incredibly irritating.

Oh sorry, I didn't realise this was the 'you must agree with me 100% and tell me I am absolutely right' board. I thought it was 'AIBU' ... you know, where posters ask Am I Being Unreasonable? and people answer whether they think they are, and voice their opinions to the OP. MY mistake SILLY ME! Hmm

Seriously what a blessed life a person must lead if they get irked and bothered, and hot under the collar, because people call Kate Middleton 'Catherine' sometimes. Good God almighty! Hmm

@Rudgie47

Kate calls William 'Babe..' Calling DOG would be more appropriate
How any woman could sleep with Prince William is beyond my imagination.

Well aren't YOU an absolute sweetheart? Hmm

I wouldn't dwell on this if I were you; I seriously doubt the handsome and upper class Prince William would be remotely interested in you.

Choccywoccyhooha · 12/01/2019 14:14

This is bonkers. I am known as 3 different versions of my name, all equally used. At work I am my full name, by many people by the common shortened version, and by my closest friends the even shorter version. My family use them all.

Butchyrestingface · 12/01/2019 14:15

You can’t have two forenames because they refer to the position the names are registered in - Rachel is registered first and Meghan is the middle position.

Of course you can have two forenames - or a first and a middle name, however you want to put it. But they are both her names.

I have a first and a middle name, both are on my birth certificate, passport and have to be recorded on all official documentation. My middle name is just as much my name as my first forename, it's just that I don't choose to be called it. MM chooses to be called by her middle/second forename - it's still her name. Can't see the issue.

mateysmum · 12/01/2019 14:15

My sister has a similar name. When I heard her colleague refer to her by a diminutive I had to do a double take before I realised who they were talking about. In the family we never use that variant, but apparently everybody at work called her the short version. It happens.

Can't understand how people can get upset about somebody daring to use their own name. In interviews with her family, they always call her Catherine and I have seen her mother quoted as being a bit put out that she is now referred to as Kate.

SandunesAndRainclouds · 12/01/2019 14:15

I have a name that is changeable ie as Kate is to Catherine.

Informally, I use the shortened version. Formally (work etc) I use the longer. If DH were to ring my work and ask to speak to ‘Kate’ they wouldn’t know me. So he uses the longer version.

When addressing the media, surely he’s at work / in a formal role so maybe would address her as Catherine as her formal name in the same way my DH would for my work.

Teateaandmoretea · 12/01/2019 14:15

I always just call people by their proper names unless they instruct me not to. Shortenings are often just used by close friends etc. I thought this was normal Confused. So I would expect her to be referred to on the news etc as her full given name.

SilverySurfer · 12/01/2019 14:16

You can't be serious - who gives a fuck what she's called?

Dubbadubbadumdum · 12/01/2019 14:17

She was nicknamed Kate (Waity Katie) by the papers. She's never been referred to as Kate by William or by her family, so why should they start calling her Kate now?

My sister has the same name, she has always been called by her full name, because it's her name, not Kate, not Katie, Kitty, Rina, Kat, or any other nicknames anyone tried to make her use. Why should she change her name to make anyone else happy?

Original poster
Dongdingdong · 12/01/2019 14:17

Of all the posters on this thread who've claimed to have some sort of association with Kate and/or her family, about half say she was always known as Kate and the other half say Catherine. So unlike I'd originally thought, maybe she was genuinely known as both when growing up.

OP posts:
robininbrum · 12/01/2019 14:17

I agree. Ludicrous argument about Meghan too. So her forename is Rachel, and her middle name Meghan. She uses the middle name.

It's her name!!!

Not like she is calling herself Susan or Karen. Confused

And so what if she was? She can call herself what she wants.

BollocksToBrexit · 12/01/2019 14:18

You can’t have two forenames because they refer to the position the names are registered in - Rachel is registered first and Meghan is the middle position.

Well that depends on the rules of the country where she was born and registered and her culture. In my country babies are registered with 2 forenames and each have equal weighting.

Teateaandmoretea · 12/01/2019 14:19

And so what if she was? She can call herself what she wants.

Well within reason. She is now a member of the royal family after all Grin

Molakai · 12/01/2019 14:19

I've the known the formal/informal usage go both ways.

Some families use the full version because that's what the child was named and nick named came later at school college etc.

I've known other people where the nick name is used only with the closest family members and person is known by more formal version elsewhere.

PumpkinPie2016 · 12/01/2019 14:20

Whatever her family/friends call her in private (and I always thought she was Catherine to family) in formal situations, Catherine is appropriate. Calling someone by a nickname in formal situations is inappropriate.

My dad is Thomas. Day to day with family/friends he is Tom but in anything formal, he is Thomas because that's his name!

StatisticallyChallenged · 12/01/2019 14:20

I think being known as different names is fairly normal tbh. My name has no nicknames, but one of my brothers is known as:
Jamie to family and friends from childhood/youth
James to employers/professional colleagues
Jay to new friends

In family situations we'd still use Jamie, but be aware that his preference for work is James so would use that if discussing him in that context.

Butchyrestingface · 12/01/2019 14:21

The Queen has also referred to her as Rachel in official documentation.

The queen referred to her as "Rachel Meghan Markle" in her consent to the Contract of Matrimony, i.e., all of her "real" names.

Original poster
Dongdingdong · 12/01/2019 14:21

She's never been referred to as Kate by William or by her family, so why should they start calling her Kate now?

That's not true Dubba - she has been referred to as Kate by PW in the past!

OP posts:
PineapplePower · 12/01/2019 14:21

I seriously doubt the handsome and upper class Prince William would be remotely interested in you

Don’t tug those forelocks too hard now!

Molakai · 12/01/2019 14:22

Credit to you OP for acknowledging you may have got it wrong.

DancingWithMyself · 12/01/2019 14:24

A middle name is a perfectly valid name to use. Actually when I was younger, I went by First-middle surname (Think Anne-Marie but not).

And OP, YABU, unless of course the Duchess publicly states she wants to be known as Kazza, not Catherine of course. Otherwise, she seems to be perfectly happily using her own name.

Butchyrestingface · 12/01/2019 14:24

I think referring to Prince William as "handsome" these days would be a bit of a push but calling him unfuckable is uncalled for and patently untrue (given the three kids).

Now prince William of Gloucester, who he was named after, was rather fetching.

OhDearGodLookAtThisMess · 12/01/2019 14:25

Why is it so hard for people to get their heads around the fact that she might be known as different names in different circles?

DS is known by his nickname (e.g. Sam) by his mates and lots of family, but dh and I only ever call him by his full name (e.g Samuel). When he was tiny, there were other silly names just for the privacy of our own home.

PlatypusPie · 12/01/2019 14:27

I know someone who has been close to the Middleton family since before the children were born - she refers to her as Catherine, as do the family.

People often shorten their names when younger and go then revert - I shortened my own name when I was at school and university but went back to the full form in my twenties - my children find it quite funny when old friends call me by the shortened version and it doesn’t feel like me. I don’t like new acquaintances instantly shortening my name.

I have a cousin who is moderately well known and uses the full name Catherine publicly and professionally - in the family she is Kate, which caused some confusion at an event recently. I also have a SIL called Katherine who has never been a Kate and would give a death glare to anyone who tried.

The media like to informalise names - surely no one actually thinks that Princess Diana was called ‘Di’ in private ?