Why Do People Still Call Kate Middleton By Her Maiden Name?

Let's face it, as devoted royal watchers, we pride ourselves on staying in the loop about the latest happenings within the British royal family. But there’s one lingering question that keeps popping up — aside from figuring out royal curtsy etiquette — and that’s why folks still refer to the Duchess of Cambridge by her maiden name. Seven years into a blissful marriage to Prince William, why hasn’t Kate Middleton officially changed her name? It seems like something we’d expect by now, right?

Why Does Kate Middleton's Name Stick?

Let’s rewind to 2003 when the world first learned that Kate Middleton and Prince William were an item. That’s nearly two decades of hearing her name in headlines and on the news, so it’s no surprise that calling her by anything else feels foreign. Once the public gets used to knowing someone by a particular name, it's almost impossible to shake that association. It’s like when you hear “Barack Obama” and think “President,” or “Taylor Swift” and think “singer.” Kate Middleton is just that ingrained in our minds.

Interestingly, her name recognition might actually work in her favor. Arianne Chernock, a Boston University professor specializing in modern British history, told Vanity Fair, “It doesn’t hurt her that the American press especially refers to her as Kate Middleton. In fact, her middle-class roots, encapsulated by that name, were part of what won her over to so many people in the first place. That little reminder of her origins can only help her.”

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What’s Her Official Title Anyway?

Alright, so if we’re really not supposed to call her Kate Middleton, what should we call her? This is where things get a little more complicated. When Prince William married Kate, she adopted the female version of his title, becoming Princess William of Wales. At the same time, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed upon the newlyweds the titles of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. So, technically speaking, she’s Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.

But wait, there’s more. Some websites like to throw around the term “Princess Kate,” but here’s the deal: Kate cannot and never will be officially known as Princess Kate because she wasn’t born into the royal family. To have the title “Prince” or “Princess” before your name, you must be born into royalty. That’s why it’s perfectly fine to call Prince William’s daughter Princess Charlotte. Following the same logic, it’s incorrect to refer to Kate as “Duchess Kate.”

Now, let’s talk about Princess Diana. When she married Prince Charles, her official title became Diana, Princess of Wales—not Princess Diana. Of course, she earned the nickname “The People’s Princess,” which stuck with her throughout history. Once Prince Charles ascends the throne and Prince William becomes the Prince of Wales, Kate will then be known as Her Royal Highness Catherine, Princess of Wales. And if Prince William eventually becomes king, her title will evolve into Her Majesty Queen Consort Catherine VI. Pretty impressive, huh?

What About Catherine Cambridge?

According to the royal family’s official website, “Historically, kings and princes were known by the names of the countries they ruled over. As a result, monarchs traditionally signed their names with just their first names, a practice that continues in the United Kingdom today.”

When Queen Elizabeth married her cousin Philip Mountbatten, she added his surname to her children’s full names. This means that Mountbatten-Windsor is Prince William’s last name, and he and Kate could pass this surname down to their kids, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

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But here’s where things get even more confusing. Prince William was named “Wales” (the region his father was Prince of) at birth. At school, he went by William Wales, but now that he holds the title Duke of Cambridge, Kate could technically go by Catherine Cambridge. Alternatively, she could also use Catherine Mountbatten-Windsor.

Prince William threw everyone for a loop when he signed Prince George’s birth certificate. He listed Kate as “Catherine Elizabeth, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge,” crossing out the married surname section. Then, he listed her job as “Princess of the United Kingdom.” With all these possibilities, we’ll leave it up to you to decide what you want to call her.

This article originally appeared on our sister site, First for Women.

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