The BBC presenter said she received days of criticism from social media users after referring to the Princess of Wales by her maiden name.
Gabby Logan (Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
BBC presenter Gabby Logan has revealed she suffered days of online abuse after referring to Catherine, Princess of Wales, as “Kate Middleton” during a sports broadcast.
Speaking on The Sports Agents podcast with a colleague BBC Presenters Mark Chapman and Nedum Onuoha, Logan discussed the challenges of identifying celebrities shown on screen during live sporting events.
Chapman admitted that there have been instances where producers have cut to famous faces in the crowd during broadcasts, only for him to have no idea who they were, reports the mirror.
“Occasionally on some live games that I’ve done, when you’re doing the build-up and they’ve cut to someone in the crowd, I’ve looked at it and thought, I have absolutely no idea,” he said. “Then they’ll tell me in my ear who it is, and I’m like, I still have absolutely no idea who it is. I can’t name it if I mispronounce it or, God forbid, look out of touch.”
Logan agreed, saying that she doesn’t like being shown celebrities she doesn’t recognize without any explanation.
“I hate that they do it and don’t know, don’t you?” she said. “Then I want to know why we’re cutting to this person. If I don’t know who they are, tell me.”
Recalling one particular incident at a rugby match, Logan said she recognized the royal guest but referred to her by her maiden name.
“It was Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, but I didn’t call her that,” she explained. “I said, ‘Oh, Kate Middleton is in the house’.”
Logan said the remark prompted a wave of criticism online, particularly from users based in the United States.
“Can I tell you how many days of abuse I got from mainly US-based accounts telling me I should basically be beheaded because I was anti-royal,” she said. “I ‘didn’t know how incredible this woman was.’ I mean, she has a loyal fan base.”
The Princess of Wales has become a familiar face at major sporting events over the years. She is a regular at Wimbledon and famously missed out on Andy Murray’s historic win in 2013 because she was heavily pregnant with Prince George.
Speaking to former BBC presenter Sue Barker in the documentary Our Wimbledon Catherine said she had been disappointed not to attend.
“I was very heavily pregnant with George so I wasn’t able to turn up,” she said.
“I know, but still,” she added. “I was like, ‘Maybe I could go’ but the doctors were like ‘no’. I texted Andy afterwards and said sorry for not being there but congratulations.”
Logan’s comments came as she, Chapman and Onuoha discussed the growing number of celebrities attending matches at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Among those seen in the stands during the tournament are actors Salma Hayek, Tom Cruise and Owen Wilson, Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds, musicians Jay-Z and Travis Scott and former NFL quarterback Tom Brady.
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