To call Kate and William

[ImJustMadAboutSaffron]

Kate and William? If ever I talk about them with anyone, they're Kate and William. I was out last week with three friends and one of them brought them up in conversation "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge ...." If she's feeling relaxed she might refer to her as Catherine.

Yes I know it is their official title(s) but it's a job title, not a name. And it feels weird to talk about someone in that way. I wouldn't talk about my boss as "the head of department", I would say Mark. Because that is his name.

I'm roughly the same age as Kate and William too, and I sort of "grew up" with him in the news etc, then when Kate came on the scene, she was just an ordinary person. I can't bow and scrape to either of them, in person or in conversation. That isn't disrespectful. Indeed, at the end of the day, they are simply people just like us (this is not a post to debate the usefulness of the royal family, if they're scroungers or lazy or should be cancelled, that's a whole other debate). William does call her Kate in private and has been overheard saying it at events.

So, Kate and William it will continue to be if I ever discuss them.

I liked when Harry called her Cath in an interview, it sounded so weird, so it’s William and Cath for me. The prince of pegging will also remain a nickname of course.

Given that the royal family are fucking weird about names anyway crack on and call them whatever works for you.

Just a couple of examples, Harry is actually Henry, King George VI was actually Prince Albert until his brother flipped the throne in an act of defiance. There are many, many more examples of how they'll have an official name, a nickname and then even the possibility of a new official name.

Catherine being known as Kate is pretty tame and common by comparison - and it's obviously the narrative that her PR team have pushed to the media.

I like Willy and Waity. If I ever meet them (doubtful) I shall tell them how disgustingly they have behaved.

I think things have become less formal over the years and this is a reflection of it. In my youth Charles was very much referred to as "Prince Charles" by the press and maybe that filtered down. Diana was "Lady Di" for YEARS after her marriage, sort of became Princess Di and after her death Diana (only what I observed) Fergie of course will always be Fergie to "her" generation at least. Kate/Catherine is lumbered with Kate forever now, too.

"The boys" were always William and Harry and it would seem daft to start using their titles when they reached adulthood, somehow. Interesting that it is "Charles and Camilla" now too and to see what happens when he and then William become King.

I very much doubt they care too much what anyone refers to them as privately, though. It is interesting to see how much social usage was changed. I remember asking my grandmother who she meant by "the old Queen" and it was Victoria, they had a lot of monarch/consorts to reference compared to us!

If I ever meet them (doubtful) I shall tell them how disgustingly they have behaved

…what did they do?

I have much less pleasant names for them, so yours won't do any harm

William does call her Kate in private and has been overheard saying it at events.

Purely out of curiosity, if he called her Boofikins or Sweetipops in private, would you do the same?

I can't even remember their first names let alone their titles. Camilla is the only one who seems remotely interesting.

My friend is a bit obsessed by the Royals and she refers to all of them as if she's met them ( she hasn't)
It was always Prince Charles when I was a kid , but now it's just Charles or Charlie ( if his name ever comes up , which is hardly ever in my house!)

At university she was called Kate.

Well, they do say ask a silly question and you'll get a silly answer. But I can't be bothered to think of one.

I find it amusing when people on here use the titles.

I refer to them in my mind as Baldy & Smirky!

According to Wikipedia (yes, I know, it must be accurate!) she was actually born Catherine, so I don't mind either.

She was always reported as Kate before things between her and dear old Wills got serious, so I was initially surprised she'd been given a brand new name. I had never known a Catherine shortened to Kate (Cait or Cate, yes, so pronounced the same way but with a C) so it wasn't obvious to me she was just using the long version of her own name.

I'm also a similar age and 'grew up' with them too, so I think I'd use Kate or Catherine interchangeably and not the title. Unless it was an official duty, then I'd probably attempt a curtsy, fall over and bring her down with me.

I might be the same age as that lot, but I have none of the balance and grace.

All that cap doffing nonsense is pathetic, they are no better than any of us. The monarchy is an anachronism, a throwback to an ugly feudal system.

I don't find I often have to talk about them with friends to worry how they are referred too

The point about the Kate in private thing was people get their knickers in a twist over "she's Catherine, not Kate, only the gutter press call her KATE. How common you are"

I thought Harry let it slip that the family call her Cathy? I think the whole Kate Middleton thing is a media construct just like “Lady Di” and suits the RF as it keeps her media persona separate from her private life.

I don't really talk about them.

The only occasion I can remember is when I bought a pair of trainers Kate had been pictured wearing.

I mentioned to the shop assistant 'I saw the Duchess of Cambridge wearing these, they'll probably sell out now' because it would have sounded weird if I'd said 'I saw Kate wearing these', as if I was talking about a friend.

I get mixed up between Cambridge and Cornwall though and sometimes have to think about which one is which.

I agree that the Age of Deference is over.
Let’s see her for what she is - She’s a Kate - an ex part time buyer for the mid tier retail store jigsaw and she’s absolutely no better than anyone else just because she managed to stick around and marry a boring out of touch bald guy

I think he once called her Cath in an interview.

Given that the royal family are fucking weird about names anyway crack on and call them whatever works for you.

Just a couple of examples, Harry is actually Henry,

@OfficiallyBroken That isn't a good example. This is a very normal thing - like people called William being Bill, or Elizabeth being Betty. Harry has always been an informal alternative of Henry. I had an Uncle who was officially a Henry but was called Harry by everyone.

If you spoke about 'Kate and William' in my hearing I wouldn't have a clue who you were talking about, I'd probably assume you we referring to your sister and brother-in-law or your neighbours or something. But, to be fair, I wouldn't remember which ones you meant if you referred to the Duke of X, I don't have any idea whether they're Windsor/Cambridge/Cornwall etc. So crack on, do whatever you want, I doubt anyone really cares.

Yes…yes you made that quite clear OP 😁

And I obviously drew a comparison with an old lady in her own living room deciding to call the queen Lizzie - you know, not actually addressing the queen directly. So, yeah, hope that clears it up for you.

Hope you’re having fun with this thread 😊