A seemingly innocent public letter from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to Princess Catherine has ignited a storm of controversy within the royal family, with insiders revealing that the note contained a subtle jab that has left Prince William, the future king, furious.
In March, following Princess Catherine’s brave revelation of her cancer diagnosis and subsequent abdominal surgery, the Sussexes issued a brief statement wishing her health and healing. However, the statement, which referred to her as “Kate,” has caused significant upset behind the scenes.
While Catherine has long been known as “Kate,” she deliberately chose to go by her full name, “Catherine,” shortly before her marriage to Prince William. This preference has been respected by close friends and family members, who understand the importance of honoring her wishes.
The public letter from Harry and Meghan, however, failed to adhere to this simple request. “We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace,” read the Sussexes’ statement.
Insiders close to the royal family have described this choice as an “entirely unnecessary and deliberate irritation,” adding that it was seen as a calculated slight against the Princess of Wales. “The fact that Harry and Meghan were unable to bring themselves to use her chosen name, even when they were sending her get-well-soon messages after her cancer diagnosis, was noted,” an insider told the Daily Beast.
For Prince William, this perceived disrespect has only deepened the existing rift between the two brothers. “William takes offense at people calling Catherine ‘Kate’ because she has asked to be known as Catherine. It’s a fairly simple wish to respect. I’m sure Meghan wouldn’t like it if William started publicly calling her ‘Meghan Markle,’” the insider continued.
A close friend of the Wales family also weighed in, stating, “No one’s saying it’s responsible for all the trouble, but deliberately calling someone by a name they don’t like is just bloody rude. If Harry and Meghan were serious about healing their issues, a good first step would be to call her Catherine.”
As tensions continue to mount, reports have surfaced that Prince William has “no plans” to invite his estranged brother to his future coronation, with sources describing the relationship between the two as “dreadfully sad.”
The rift between the once-close brothers seems to be widening, and this latest incident serves as a stark reminder of the strained ties within the royal family.
