Who is Kate Middleton?

I think it's lovely that William calls her Catherine. It shows respect. If that is her preferred name then so be it. I dislike intensely people calling me by a shortened version of my name when I always use the full name myself. It shows disrespect because I don't like the short version and haven't given them permission to use it. Very few people ask whether you mind.

Why not Duchess Kate, then? That would make sense!

Alegrias is right (as she usually is).

It’s noteworthy that James Bulger was usually referred to as ‘Jamie’ in the newspapers so as to over familiarise him to the reader.

James’ parents never called him Jamie, but this also stuck in the public’s imagination.

Also, she’s known as Kate for the more prosaic reason that it’s shorter (newspapers like short words).

Unlike many on here I actually like the fact that she is known by her unmarried name; I suppose that I like to pretend that she chose to be referred to it herself (I assume that this isn’t the case!)

I had never considered that it might be though if as being disrespectful at all.

Does any Catherine with a C use Cate? I can only think of (the marvellous) Blanchet.

At least she’s not known as Cath.
(Apologies to any Caths, I have inherited the dislike of the name from my wonderful mom, Kathryn.
Woe betide anyone who called her ‘Cath’

Josieann

I assume Kate was what she was called at school because one of her teachers at Marlborough College called her by that name when she was interviewed. Maybe it stuck with her at uni too because there's the famous quote by William, "Kate's hot!" when she wore the see through dress. Also Meghan referred to her as Kate at least 3 times in the Oprah interview.
Grace Kelly was always referred to as such, not Grace Grimaldi. Carla Bruni didn't become Madame Sarkozy. Meghan Markle etc. Maiden names ames stick, especially in reporting. I don't think there is any significance.

Exactly. Goodness me “unbelievably rude and disrespectful “
OTT or what, She is just a woman whose unmarried name was Kate Middleton., and sometimes she’s referred to as such and sometimes (mostly I’d say) as the Duchess of Cambridge,

Mike Middleton is a regular customer of our business and during his last visit his phone rang.
He turned away as he answered it saying ‘Hello Kate” ….

NotAGran ooh!

NotAGran55

Mike Middleton is a regular customer of our business and during his last visit his phone rang.
He turned away as he answered it saying ‘Hello Kate” ….

Could have been another Kate?

I have no idea how she feels about being referred to as Kate but if that is what she is known as to her family it can’t be unbelievably rude or disrespectful which is a bit dramatic.
A short version of Catherine is usually, Cat, again, no idea why she is known as Kate.

Kalu I think that it’s the Middleton part that some posters think is disrespectful, I could be wrong

Sophie Rhys Jones is never called by her maiden name she is usually Sophie Wessex.

Maiden name - now, there’s a thread all its own

Many generations of Catherine in my family, in South Wales
shortened to Kate in North Wales shortened to Cadi.

So why do we say Anne Boleyn or Lady Jane Grey, using their maiden names?

Good point, Josieann.

Am I alone in being truly fed up with Prince Williams wife forever being described by her maiden name in newspapers and magazines?

You might be.

I'm not sure why the media do it. Maybe to emphasise her 'ordinariness' whilst sycophantly telling us in minute detail about her every move and gesture. Especially when she wears the same outfit more than once.

They like to present the aristocracy, royalty and politicians in familiar terminology so we see them as human, "just like us, really".

Hence "Kate", "Boris", "Maggie" (back in the 70s)... though they haven't yet 'humanised' Jacob Rees-Mogg - he hasn't (as far as I know) become our "Jacob". Although he has been referred to as "Moggy" by some.

FannyCornforth

Kalu I think that it’s the Middleton part that some posters think is disrespectful, I could be wrong

Must pay more attention Fanny. ?

Unless I've misremembered my Debrett, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge would mean that she's divorced.

I find it strange that newspapers persist with this, I think of her as Catherine, as it's such a beautiful name. (a close relative of mine is called it).
I think she's wonderful, a real breath of fresh air in the royal family, and I fervently hope she becomes Queen one day.

I agree, Catherine is a beautiful name, my maternal grandmother was one and it was one of my mother's names and one of mine, not my first, I wish it had been, I'd have stayed a Catherine there are a plethora of Kates. I had it lined up for a prospective daughter, but she didn't arrive!

On the subject of maiden names, I was happy to offload mine, too foreign and given I was mispronounced much of my school life I felt I stood out when I wanted to blend in, it made me self conscious and I hated drawing attention to myself.

Anniebach

Many generations of Catherine in my family, in South Wales
shortened to Kate in North Wales shortened to Cadi.

Agree !

Princess Diana was often called Lady Di in the press and as someone has pointed out Sarah Ferguson as Fergie and Meghan Markle still is. They seem to use the quickest name they know.
I don't think the press are trying to remind us that she is just one of us. Her elocuted way of speaking is the give away. Her speech is not natural it sounds like she has had lessons at sometime. In fact she speaks more upperclass than Prince William who seems to have brought his speech to a more colloquial level as he grows older.
Who knows what they all call each other and does it matter ?We all know her back ground what her parents were and her grandparents.

Her name is Catherine. As the mother of a daughter named Catherine I think it’s disrespectful to call her Kate. Clearly she hasn’t asked them to do that, it’s the press who have decided to call her Kate. I have no idea what William and her family call her and neither has anyone else, and so she should be called Catherine.

Was she not Kate at university? The press didn’t decide that.

I think she was generally known as Kate at University. I know a man called Eddie, everyone calls him that except his wife who calls him Edward. We're not being disrespectful, it's how he introduces himself to people.

I know lots of women who go by both their maiden and married name depending on the situation. So at their children's school and when dealing with the bank they are Jane Greene but at work or with old friends they are Jane Lewis.

She was Kate at uni and school. I’ve read it’s what her family call her, including william