There is nothing quite like being corrected by the internet on how to address a princess. Kylie Kelce invited Kate Middleton onto her podcast, thought she was being charmingly casual, and promptly discovered that royal-watchers keep receipts on titles.
Instead of sulking, the Not Gonna Lie host turned the moment into a mini etiquette class for millions of listeners. Her lesson: Catherine is not “Princess Kate,” and even in the Kelce–Swift–NFL cinematic universe, Buckingham Palace-style formality still has range.
What Kylie Kelce Originally Said On Her Podcast
Kylie, 34, has quickly shifted from “NFL wife” to culture commentator thanks to Not Gonna Lie, the podcast she launched off the back of husband Jason Kelce’s New Heights success with brother Travis Kelce. On the Sept. 24 episode, she decided to shoot her shot with British royalty.
“Princess Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, if you ever wanted to come on and chitchat about some field hockey and maybe kids,” she said, noting that their husbands had already connected when Prince William visited New Heights. It was classic American-fan energy: enthusiastic, a little informal, and just inaccurate enough on titles to send royal TikTok into a gentle spiral.
The Royal Correction Kylie Issued One Week Later
By the Oct. 1 episode, Kylie had clearly been debriefed by either the internet or a very invested group chat.
“I love learning, so I was unaware that calling Princess Catherine, Princess Kate was offensive,” Kelce says. “I didn’t know that. Now I know that. Now I will proceed accordingly.”
She went on to address the royal directly: “Princess Catherine or the Princess of Wales, I apologize. I will get that sorted immediately starting now,” Kelce says. She stressed that she wants to call people what makes them feel respected, turning a casual name-drop into a tidy little masterclass in being corrected without melting down.
Why Princess Kate Can Be Touchy For Royal Watchers
Since Queen Elizabeth’s death in Sept. 2022, Catherine’s full style has been Catherine, Princess of Wales. In formal settings she is “the Princess of Wales” or “Princess Catherine,” not “Princess Kate.” The “Duchess of Cambridge” tag Kylie used is technically historic, not wrong so much as out of date.
Here is the twist: the planet still Googles “Kate Middleton.” Media outlets lean into that reality, using Kate Middleton in headlines and then switching to Princess of Wales or Princess Catherine in body copy. She has been “Kate” to the public since university, which is why so many casual fans had no idea the nickname might grate.
“Princess Kate” is not used in palace statements and makes royal purists wince, but it is not a slur. It is a protocol issue. Calling her Catherine or the Princess of Wales is more accurate and more respectful in formal contexts, which is exactly the adjustment Kylie is trying to make on air.
The Invite Still Stands – With Cleaner Language
Kylie made it clear that the apology did not come with entitlement. “I don’t think that anybody owes me anything. Let me emphasize that,” she says. She would, however, love an hour with the Princess of Wales. “She is an incredible woman. She has children. She played field hockey. She battled cancer. There are so many things that I would love to speak to her about,” Kelce says.
When a commenter sniffed that Princess Catherine was “too refined and beautiful” for Kylie’s prolific cursing, she did not disagree. “First of all, you’re correct. Agreed,” Kelce says. She added that she loves a curse word, but, “Would I curse at her face? No.” Translation: she can toggle from Eagles tailgate to Buckingham Palace vocabulary if the guest list demands it.
