Here’s what’s known about the reported claim:
- The allegation originated from Prince Harry’s memoir Spare and a royal biography, claiming King Charles and Camilla considered Kate Middleton changing the spelling of her given name from Catherine to Katherine to avoid repeating Cs in the royal cyphers.[3][8]
- Multiple outlets have covered the claim, noting it was described as an idea considered before Kate’s 2011 wedding, and that Kate and William reportedly took offense or opposition to the suggestion.[4][6][3]
- The prevailing messaging from Kensington Palace and the royal family has long indicated Kate prefers to be known as Catherine (Kate being a common usage), but there is no official endorsement of altering her name spelling in royal records.[5][9][3]
Key context and caveats:
- The story centers on a suggestion linked to royal monograms and public perception, not a formal policy change or decree. It appears in memoirs and biographies rather than official royal communications.[3][5]
- Coverage emphasizes this as a historic anecdote rather than a current, actionable royal protocol, and responses vary by source with some repeating the claim and others questioning its veracity or significance.[2][6]
- If you’re looking for the most precise statements, the clearest signals come from public statements about how Catherine wishes to be addressed (and is addressed) rather than unconfirmed anecdotes about name spellings being officially changed.[9][3]
If you’d like, I can summarize the major sources in a side-by-side quick-reference and link to each article so you can see how different outlets frame the claim.