The BBC has landed in hot water after making a royal blunder related to Catherine, Princess of Wales.
Princess Kate recently made a special solo appearance for Armistice Day on Tuesday, November 11.
Social media users quickly slammed the BBC’s coverage of the event, accusing the broadcaster of disrespecting the princess.
The BBC has landed in hot water after making a royal blunder related to Catherine, Princess of Wales
Highlights
- The BBC was accused of disrespecting Catherine, Princess of Wales, in its recent coverage.
- Princess Kate attended the Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum’s Armed Forces Memorial in honor of Armistice Day on Tuesday.
- Netizens expressed outrage after the coverage and claimed it was another reason to "defund" them.
Image credits: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
On Tuesday, Princess Kate attended the Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum's Armed Forces Memorial in honor of Armistice Day, which marks the anniversary of the end of World War I.
The 43-year-old princess represented the royal family at the ceremony and laid a wreath to honor those who lost their lives in service and served in the Armed Forces.
Image credits: Annie Spratt/Unsplash
Princess Kate led a poignant two-minute silence in remembrance of the fallen during the ceremony, after which she interacted with veterans and their families.
She was captured kneeling to hold the hand of a 100-year-old veteran named Donald ‘Bill’ Redston, who was also a former marathon runner and participated in the London Marathon and New York City Marathon at the ages of 65 and 66.
When the Princess of Wales asked him what inspired his love for running, he said he “liked the idea of keeping fit.”
Princess Kate made a solo appearance at the Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum's Armed Forces Memorial in honor of Armistice Day
Image credits: Adrian_Hilton
After Princess Kate's debut appearance at the service, the BBC was at the center of controversy for its coverage of the event.
“Kate and Queen lay Armistice Day wreaths as nation pays tribute,” read the headline.
A presenter was heard referring to her as “Kate Middleton” during the live coverage of the event.
Image credits: The Royal Family Channel
Netizens were quick to point out that Kate Middleton has not been her name since 2011, as it was her maiden name.
Her current official title is Catherine, Princess of Wales.
After tying the knot with Prince William in 2011, she was given the title of Duchess of Cambridge by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The mother-of-three carried the title for over a decade until the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, after which King Charles III bestowed the titles of the Princess and Prince of Wales to her and her royal husband.
Netizens were outraged over the BBC's coverage of the event
Image credits: Adrian_Hilton
Image credits: Adrian_Hilton
In the past, Prince William has referred to his wife as Kate on different occasions.
“I would say I'm getting better at cooking,” he told ITV in his engagement interview. “Kate would say I'm getting a lot worse.”
Nowadays, he is mostly heard calling her Catherine.
His brother Prince Harry also referred to his sister-in-law as Kate in his memoir Spare.
Image credits: The Royal Family Channel
Many slammed the BBC for its coverage of the Tuesday event.
“Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall the BBC referring to ‘Diana Spencer’ after her wedding, or writing headlines like ‘Di and Queen,’” author Adrian Hilton said on X, sharing a screenshot of the headline.
“The tabloids did, certainly. But it's even more disrespectful from @BBCNews because she uses ‘Catherine’, and I thought the BBC now valued preeminently how people wish to self-identify,” he added.
Another viewer commented, “Can’t believe the appalling coverage on BBC. The Princess of Wales being referred to as Kate Middleton!”
Many pointed out that Kate Middleton has not been her name since 2011
Image credits: Adrian_Hilton
Another wrote, “How dare the #BBC once again be disrespectful to [Catherine] Princes of Wales at the wreath laying (broadcasting now). Several times, the woman presenter used her maiden name. I am fuming!!! I would name and shame if I knew who she is.”
“Can somebody have a word in the ear of your reporter at the National Memorial Arboretum – she should not be referring to the Princess of Wales as ‘Kate Middleton’!!” another raged,” read another comment.
Image credits: Karwai Tang/WireImage
Image credits: Adrian_Hilton
“Another reason to defund them. They are purposely disrespectful. They refused to call her a duchess, they refuse to call her a princess, will they refuse to call her Queen when the time comes?” said another.
Popular British TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp was also outraged by the headline.
The British broadcaster changed the headline following the backlash
“This is one of my bug bears. It is Catherine, the Middleton bit is just bloody rude, but most of all it is Catherine. HRH the Princess of Wales actually and if that k*lls you it’s Catherine Wales,” Kirstie wrote in a tweet.
She said she has always loved the BBC but noted they “get things wrong.”
“It often drives me crazy,” she added.
Following the backlash, the BBC changed its headline to “Catherine and Queen lay Armistice Day wreaths as nation pays tribute.”
“How despicably rude,” read one comment online
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