Prince William's 'forgotten' name for Princess Kate they dropped when she became royal
It's been 14 years since the now Prince and Princess of Wales announced their engagement, but there's one name he called his wife-to-be that he never uses now.
Fourteen years ago, the Prince and Princess of Wales made a momentous announcement: they were engaged.
The couple's engagement was revealed in a memorable photocall where Kate dazzled with the stunning sapphire ring that once adorned the hand of William's mother, the late Princess Diana. To commemorate the special day, they gave a rare interview to ITV's Tom Bradby, discussing their journey from friendship to love, the romantic Kenyan proposal and how their 2007 split was merely a brief pause in their relationship.
However, a look back at the 2010 interview shows Prince William using a name for his then-fiancee that he seldom uses now. Throughout the conversation, he affectionately referred to her as 'Kate' - a moniker she was known by during her university days and one still popular among many.
Yet, post their April 2011 wedding, William has largely refrained from calling her 'Kate' in public or speeches, opting instead for her full name, Catherine. Even the Princess herself adopts 'Catherine' in public settings.
At an event two years prior, when asked by a young boy about her name, she answered, "Catherine", reports the Mirror.
Although it's been 14 years since their engagement, the roots of their romance trace back to their time as students at St Andrews University in Scotland.
However, it appears their first encounter left different impressions on their minds. Speaking during their engagement interview, William confessed he would need to "wrack his brains" to recall their initial meeting.
Meanwhile, Kate has a vivid memory of that time, describing her reaction candidly. She recalled: "I actually went bright red when I met you and scuttled off feeling very shy about meeting you.
"William wasn't there for quite a bit of the time initially, he wasn't there from Fresher's Week, so it did take a bit of time for us to get to know each other. But we did become very close friends from quite early on."
William and Kate delved into the topic of their momentary breakup as well, shedding light on its significance for their relationship's foundation.
The now Prince of Wales said: "We did split up for a bit. We were both very young, it was at university and we were both finding ourselves and being different characters and stuff.
Don't miss: Prince Louis dubbed 'spitting image' of close Royal Family relative
Don't miss: One hobby Princess Kate loves that Prince William has 'no idea' about
Don't miss: Princess Charlotte's name has secret meaning that's an incredible homage to King
William added: "It was very much trying to find our own way and we were growing up. It was just a bit of space. It worked out for the better."
On the heels of that short separation 17 years ago, William and Kate's bond has only deepened. Following their marriage, they welcomed three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Last year, they celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary with a collection of stunning photographs taken at Kensington Palace, their London residence.
