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AIBU?

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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:
BejamNostalgia · 12/01/2019 14:48

dingdong, apparently Charles promised the late Queen Mother that he would reign as George VII in order to pay tribute to her late husband George VI. Also provides a nice bit of distance from all that messy Diana business too.

pigsDOfly · 12/01/2019 14:48

Don't give a damn what's she's called tbh but surely if her name is Catherine spelled with a 'C' why is she not called Cate by the press. Where did the 'K' come from?

BejamNostalgia · 12/01/2019 14:49

‘What, Charles did what to Diana? No, no, nothing to do with me. I’m George, not Charles’.

*whistles innocently and sidles out

Original poster
Dongdingdong · 12/01/2019 14:49

dingdong, apparently Charles promised the late Queen Mother that he would reign as George VII in order to pay tribute to her late husband George VI. Also provides a nice bit of distance from all that messy Diana business too.

Interesting Bejam. I wonder if he’ll stick to that now there’s a Prince George in line to the throne!

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Butchyrestingface · 12/01/2019 14:49

Don't give a damn what's she's called tbh but surely if her name is Catherine spelled with a 'C' why is she not called Cate by the press. Where did the 'K' come from?

Cate Blanchett was the first 'Cate' I ever saw with their name spelled that way. It doesn't seem to be the convention.

BejamNostalgia · 12/01/2019 14:50

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

She was called ‘Duch’ in private IIRC.

Schmoobarb · 12/01/2019 14:50

I've read somewhere that she is known as Catherine to family and friends. It's just the media which christened her Kate

That’s what I thought. “Waity Katie” etc 🙄

longwayoff · 12/01/2019 14:51

Isnt Prince Charles going to be King Albert?

Drogosnextwife · 12/01/2019 14:52

Well her name is Catherine so......

Butchyrestingface · 12/01/2019 14:52

A propos of nothing, I wonder if there's ever been a case where the heir apparent died from old age before the reigning monarch dropped off the perch?

Original poster
Dongdingdong · 12/01/2019 14:54

I wonder if there's ever been a case where the heir apparent died from old age before the reigning monarch dropped off the perch?

Not from old age I don’t think, but from other causes probably, yes.

OP posts:
Aragog · 12/01/2019 14:54

At least it’s her name. Meghan’s real name is Rachel.

Some people believe that first and middle names are interchangeable and as equal as one another, so either may be used.

Some people decided to use their middle name themselves - a choice they've made.

Some choose to use a different name entirely.

Regardless, that is the name that the woman herself has chosen to use and is known by. Therefore it is indeed her real name.

NewName54321 · 12/01/2019 15:03

I wonder if there's ever been a case where the heir apparent died from old age before the reigning monarch dropped off the perch?

George III succeeded his grandfather in this scenario.

If it were to happen now, then the likelihood is that William would be king before George becomes an adult, as the Queen would be 105 in the year George is 18. Then Harry's role will change as he'd be the first adult in the line of succession, and have to be ready to step in at a moment's notice to become regent if William were to die, become incapacitated or abdicate.

MartaHallard · 12/01/2019 15:04

Not from old age I don’t think, but from other causes probably, yes.

The Black Prince, son of Edward III, who would have been Edward IV (and history would have been very different if he'd lived.)

The Prince of Wales, son of George II, who would have been King Frederick.

And there have been several occasions when the eldest son died and the succession passed to a younger son.

Laiste · 12/01/2019 15:04

Walkingthedog46 - I imagine it is so everyone gets used to calling her Catherine for when William becomes a King and therefore Catherine becomes Queen. Queen Catherine sounds rather more regal than Queen Kate!

OP - That's what I think too!

And - this annoys you ... OP? Confused Why?

whosafraidofabigduckfart · 12/01/2019 15:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Laiste · 12/01/2019 15:08

My DH has a name which has a chirpy shortened version. Common enough name. He uses his 'proper' name with people who don't know him or when he wants to be taken more seriously.

What's so wrong or odd about this?

Original poster
Dongdingdong · 12/01/2019 15:08

Because it’s just a bit pretentious I suppose, Laiste. If the royal family think Kate doesn’t sound regal enough, then I wonder how they’d have coped if William had fallen for a Kayleigh or a Kylie!

OP posts:
Laiste · 12/01/2019 15:10

Do you think Queen Kylie sounds regal?

Original poster
Dongdingdong · 12/01/2019 15:11

What the fuck is wrong with you ?

You seriously need to chill out. Do you always go around in a state of such heightened anger and indignation? It’s very bad for you, you know!

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Butchyrestingface · 12/01/2019 15:11

George III succeeded his grandfather in this scenario.

George III's father didn't die of old age though, did he?

I was imagining a scenario whereby the Queen lives on forever, and Charles dies of old age before she does. He must have had the longest wait to inherit the crown possible already, surely?

Presumably in that scenario the crown would go straight to William.

Roussette · 12/01/2019 15:12

My DH has a name that can be shortened. Let's call him James.

His family call him James. His friends call him Jim. I call him Jim or Jimbo or whatever.

There are many variations and what is pretentious about it if she's always been called Catherine but some people call her Kate.

Weird.

ChanelPlease · 12/01/2019 15:12

'My husband is called a name like ‘Thomas’. He is known as Thomas by family, ‘ Tom ‘school friends and ‘tommy’ by college friends.'

That's the same name though. Kate sounds completely different to Catherine. If her friends called her Cathy and any official reference was Catherine I could see your point.

It'd be like being called Peggy and suddenly everyone calling you Margaret.

Doesn't bother me really what they call her but saying it's like any abbreviation isn't quite true is it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dongdingdong · 12/01/2019 15:14

That's the same name though. Kate sounds completely different to Catherine. If her friends called her Cathy and any official reference was Catherine I could see your point.

Exactly Chanel!

OP posts: