A former royal staffer has disclosed that the Princess of Wales, known publicly as Catherine, is still referred to as Kate by those closest to her. Grant Harrold, who served as a butler to King Charles III and Queen Camilla, as well as Princes William and Harry, shared details of the informal names used within the royal household.
Speaking on behalf of Smooth Spins Casino, Mr Harrold explained that Prince William has always called his wife Kate, a practice that continued after their 2011 wedding. He added that Catherine introduced herself to him as Kate and requested that he use that name. According to Mr Harrold, the formal use of Catherine only began following the wedding ceremony, and he anticipates she will be known as Queen Catherine after the coronation.
The former butler also revealed affectionate nicknames between the King and Queen, noting they refer to each other as sweetheart and darling. In staff areas, code names were employed for practical discussions: King Charles was called 'the Boss', just as the late Queen Elizabeth II was, and Camilla was referred to as 'the Duchess'. Princes William and Harry, along with Kate, were simply called by their first names.
Mr Harrold also mentioned operational code names, with the late Queen known as 'London Bridge' and King Charles as 'Menai Bridge'. The insights offer a rare glimpse into the private dynamics of the Royal Family.
