Princess Catherine and King Charles have always shared a unique and close bond, akin to the relationship King Charles had with the late Queen Elizabeth. King Charles has been vocal about the invaluable contribution Catherine has made to the monarchy since marrying Prince William, considering her a crucial asset to the royal family. Despite her recent health challenges, Princess Catherine has remained steadfast in her support of the monarchy and the royal family. In recent weeks, royal fans have seen her resuming her public duties with appearances at Trooping the Colour and Wimbledon.
However, a fascinating revelation from Prince Harry's memoir, "Spare," sheds light on an intriguing request made by King Charles to Catherine several years ago. In his best-selling book, Harry disclosed that King Charles once asked Catherine to change the spelling of her name to avoid confusion with the royal ciphers. With both King Charles and Queen Camilla using a "C" and a crown above their initials, King Charles suggested that Catherine spell her name with a "K." However, Catherine politely refused the unusual request, a decision that didn't affect her close relationship with King Charles.
Harry recounted the moment in his book: "There were already two royal ciphers with a 'C' and a crown above—King Charles and Queen Camilla. It would be too confusing to have another. 'Make it Catherine with a K,' they suggested. I wondered now what came of that suggestion." He noted that Prince William's reaction was neutral, reflecting the delicate nature of the conversation.
As the senior members of the royal family rallied together following Harry and Meghan Markle's departure, both King Charles and Catherine faced their own health battles this year. Despite the suggestion about her name, King Charles' support for Catherine remained unwavering. Following Catherine's announcement of her cancer diagnosis, King Charles openly expressed his admiration for her courage in an emotional video message.
Former royal correspondent Jenny Bond highlighted the depth of their relationship, noting King Charles' affectionate statement: "I noticed in the king's statement of support after Catherine's broadcast, he said he was in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law. I was struck by the fact that he didn't say 'close' but 'closest.'"
The bond between King Charles and Catherine deepened further as they both navigated their cancer treatments. Bond remarked, "There's no doubt that cancer has cemented an already strong relationship. It's very touching to think of King Charles toddling down the corridor to see Catherine when they were both in hospital."
A particularly poignant moment occurred when Charles and Catherine shared an emotional lunch at Windsor Castle before Catherine publicly revealed her diagnosis. The Mirror reported, "It is highly unusual for just the two of them to sit down together like this. The king knew that the woman he calls 'my beloved daughter-in-law' had cancer. They would have had lots to talk about because just a few weeks before, the king had started his treatment and had to tell everyone about his diagnosis."
The lunch left King Charles feeling deeply emotional, reinforcing their bond. "They are very close, and he thinks of Catherine as his daughter. There is no doubt there is a lot they can share and can use each other for support during their own deeply personal cancer fights," Bond noted.
Queen Elizabeth also showed her support for Catherine and her commitment to the monarchy in 2019 by bestowing upon her the title of Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, the highest rank granted by the monarch. This honor was made public on William and Catherine's eighth wedding anniversary, symbolizing the Queen's appreciation and support for Catherine.
Through health challenges and royal duties, the bond between Princess Catherine and King Charles remains a testament to their mutual respect and unwavering support, reflecting the strength of the royal family even in the most trying times.
