Kylie Kelce apologized publicly on October 1, 2026, after calling Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Kate on a podcast. She invited the royal to her show while admitting ignorance of the title.
Kylie Kelce Invites the Princess
The controversy began on the September 24, 2026, episode of the podcast “Not Gonna Lie,” when host Kylie Kelce invited Catherine to appear as a guest. Kelce, who is married to former NFL player Jason Kelce, suggested that the two women might find common ground through their shared interests.
“Princess Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, if you ever wanted to come on and chitchat about some field hockey and maybe kids. I don’t know. We got a couple things in common.”
Kelce’s invitation was rooted in the idea that both women have experience with field hockey and motherhood. However, the use of the name Princess Kate drew attention due to the royal’s formal title. As noted by Page Six, Catherine has been formally addressed as the Princess of Wales since September 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles’s accession to the throne.
Kelce Issues a Public Apology
By the following week, Kelce had addressed the criticism surrounding her word choice. During the October 1 episode of her show, she expressed a desire to be respectful of royal protocol and admitted her previous lack of knowledge regarding the nuances of the Princess’s name. The 34-year-old explained that she wanted to refer to individuals in the manner that ensures they feel respected.
Kelce issued a direct apology to the royal, stating she would get that sorted immediately, starting now.
She emphasized that her intent was simply to be respectful and that she would like to refer to people in the most respectful way and how they feel respected. Speaking directly to the royal during the episode, she said, “Princess Catherine, or the Princess of Wales, I apologise.”
Prior Meetings Involving the Family
The outreach to Catherine follows a series of interactions between the Kelce family and the British royal family. In July 2026, Prince William appeared on the “New Heights” podcast, which is hosted by Jason and Travis Kelce. That appearance saw the trio discussing soccer and the NFL’s presence in the United Kingdom.
The relationship between the families dates back further to June 2024, when Prince William and his children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, met the Kelce brothers backstage at a Taylor Swift concert in London. Travis Kelce later recalled the nerves the brothers felt during that encounter.
Studio Visit Unlikely to Happen
Despite the high-profile connection, Kelce is realistic about the chances of the Princess of Wales joining her program. She is not exactly expecting to see the Princess of Wales walk into the studio next week.
Kelce also addressed listener concerns about the tone of her show, specifically regarding her use of profanity. After a listener suggested that the Princess might be too refined and beautiful to be subjected to your cursing,
Kelce agreed and promised to maintain a professional standard if the interview were to occur. At the end of the day, I am respectful of the situations that I am put in, at least being respectful to the people I am speaking to,
she said.
