Kylie Kelce is getting a quick lesson in royal etiquette, and she is owning the mistake. The “Not Gonna Lie” podcast host apologized to Kate Middleton, formally known as Catherine, Princess of Wales, after learning that the way she addressed the royal during a recent episode was not considered the proper form of address.
Kelce, 34, revisited the subject on the Oct. 1 episode of her podcast, one week after publicly inviting the Princess of Wales to join her for a conversation about motherhood, sports, and their shared love of field hockey.
© Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesWhy Did Kylie Kelce Apologize to Kate Middleton?
During the Sept. 24 episode of “Not Gonna Lie,” Kelce discussed the Princess of Wales showing off her athletic skills during a royal engagement. That prompted Kelce, who played field hockey in college, to extend an invitation to the royal. “Princess Kate, Duchess of Cambridge,” Kelce began before suggesting they “chitchat about some field hockey and maybe kids.”
There were two issues with the introduction. Catherine is no longer formally styled the Duchess of Cambridge as her primary title. Following Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III’s accession in September 2022, Prince William became the Prince of Wales and Catherine became the Princess of Wales. The Royal Family’s official website currently identifies her as “The Princess of Wales.”
Kelce also learned that referring to Catherine as “Princess Kate” could be considered too informal or incorrect in a formal royal context.
© Getty Images for Warner Bros.
© Variety via Getty ImagesBy her next episode, she was ready to make a correction.
Kylie Kelce Says She ‘Didn’t Know’ About the Royal Etiquette
Kelce addressed the criticism directly on her Oct. 1 podcast episode and explained that she had not realized her wording could cause offense. “I love learning,” Kelce said, explaining that she had been unaware of the issue. “I didn’t know that. Now I know that.”
Rather than dismissing the correction as a technicality, Kelce said she wanted to address Catherine in a way that was respectful. “I apologize for the mistake,” she said, adding that she wants to refer to people “in the most respectful way.”
© Getty Images for The Webby AwardKelce then settled on the titles she plans to use from now on: “Princess Catherine” or “The Princess of Wales.”
“I will get that sorted immediately, starting now,” she said.
What Is Kate Middleton’s Correct Royal Title?
Catherine’s official title is The Princess of Wales. The Royal Family’s website identifies her as Catherine Elizabeth Middleton and notes that she married Prince William at Westminster Abbey in April 2011. The couple were previously known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
© Mark CuthbertThat changed following Queen Elizabeth II’s death in September 2022.
In his first address to the nation as monarch, King Charles III announced that William would become Prince of Wales, saying that “with Catherine beside him,” the couple would become the new Prince and Princess of Wales.
“Kate Middleton,” of course, remains widely used in media coverage and online searches, even though it is not her current royal title. Her official royal biography uses Catherine and The Princess of Wales.
Kylie Kelce Still Wants Kate Middleton on Her Podcast
The title correction has not changed Kelce’s interest in having Catherine as a “Not Gonna Lie” guest. Her original invitation centered on subjects the two women could potentially have plenty to discuss, particularly parenting and sports.
Kelce and husband Jason Kelce are parents to four daughters, while the Prince and Princess of Wales have three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Kelce also pointed to an existing connection between their husbands. Prince William previously appeared on Jason and Travis Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast, something Kylie referenced while making her invitation.
© Getty Images for WonderyStill, she made it clear that she does not expect the Princess of Wales to accept simply because the invitation is out there. “I don’t think that anybody owes me anything,” Kelce said.
She nevertheless made her interest clear, saying, “I would love to speak to the Princess of Wales.”
Kylie Kelce Is Even Willing to Clean Up Her Language
There may be another adjustment required if Catherine ever does take a seat across from Kelce: the podcast host's famously unfiltered vocabulary.
Kelce responded to a commenter who suggested she would need to tone down her cursing if the Princess of Wales became a guest. On that point, Kelce did not put up much of a fight. “First of all, you’re correct. Agreed,” she responded.
© NBC“Not Gonna Lie” is deliberately casual and candid, with Kelce discussing parenting, sports, celebrity culture and her life as part of one of football’s most famous families. The show releases new episodes weekly and has featured a growing roster of high-profile guests.
A visit from the Princess of Wales would clearly require a slightly different approach.
