Prince William and Kate Middleton height difference is about 16 cm, or roughly 6 inches. William is usually reported at 6 feet 3 inches (about 191 cm) and Catherine, Princess of Wales, at 5 feet 9 inches (about 175 cm). That gap shrinks a lot on official occasions, because the princess almost always wears heels.
In this matchup we look at both numbers, how the royal couple compares with the rest of the family, why the height gap looks so different from one photo to the next and what royal protocol has to do with it.
Prince William and Kate Middleton height difference at a glance
| Prince William | Catherine, Princess of Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| Reported height | 6’3″ | 5’9″ |
| In centimeters | about 191 cm | about 175 cm |
| Born | June 21, 1982 | January 9, 1982 |
| Title since 2022 | Prince of Wales | Princess of Wales |
| Height difference | about 16 cm (6 inches) |
Neither height comes from an official palace document. Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace don’t publish the heights of royals. Both figures come from long-standing press reports and they match what you see in photos next to people with well-documented heights, so they are considered reliable.
How tall is Prince William?
About 191 cm. That makes him one of the tallest senior members of the royal family and clearly taller than most world leaders he meets. The average British man is about 178 cm, so William is roughly 13 cm above the national average. He is also taller than his father, King Charles III, and his brother, Prince Harry.
William is very tall but not bulky, and he tends to stand straight in a way that reflects his military training. He served in the Royal Air Force as a search and rescue helicopter pilot, and later flew air ambulance missions in East Anglia before taking on full-time royal duties.
How tall is Kate Middleton?
The Princess of Wales is usually reported at about 175 cm, or 5 feet 9 inches. That is tall for a British woman: the national average is around 164 cm, so she is about 11 cm above it. She has a slim, athletic build and is known for playing sports such as tennis, hockey and sailing, which she enjoyed at school.
Her height is one reason she can carry long coats and floor-length gowns so well. Stylists often note that she looks great in midi lengths and tailored coat dresses, which suit a tall frame.
Why the gap looks smaller in photos
On paper there are 16 cm between them. In most official photos it looks closer to 8 or 10 cm. The reason is simple: shoes.
- Catherine usually wears pumps with heels of about 7 to 10 cm at official events
- William wears classic men’s dress shoes with a small heel of 2 to 3 cm
- At outdoor engagements she sometimes switches to wedges or boots, which still add height
- At sports events and in casual settings, when she wears trainers, the real gap shows
So depending on the event, you can see the full 16 cm difference or only half of it. That is why so many people search for the real numbers.
Prince William and Kate compared with the royal family
Here is how the couple compares with other well-known royals, using the heights most commonly reported in the press.
| Royal | Reported height | Compared with William |
|---|---|---|
| Prince William | 6’3″ (191 cm) | — |
| Prince Harry | 6’1″ (186 cm) | 5 cm shorter |
| King Charles III | 5’10” (178 cm) | 13 cm shorter |
| Princess Diana | 5’10” (178 cm) | 13 cm shorter |
| Catherine, Princess of Wales | 5’9″ (175 cm) | 16 cm shorter |
| Queen Camilla | 5’8″ (173 cm) | 18 cm shorter |
| Queen Elizabeth II | 5’3″ (160 cm) | 31 cm shorter |
William vs. Harry
The two brothers are both tall, but William has a few centimeters on Harry. In childhood photos with their mother, the boys were already tall for their age, and both ended up taller than both of their parents. Princess Diana was famously tall herself, at about 5’10”.
William vs. King Charles
The King is about 178 cm, so William is around 13 cm taller than his father. In photos from Trooping the Colour and other state occasions, the difference is easy to see, especially when they stand side by side on the balcony.
The height difference in royal history
Height has been a talking point for royal couples for decades. When Prince Charles and Diana got engaged, the couple were close in height, and photographers were reportedly careful in some official portraits to avoid making Diana look taller. With William and Catherine, there is no such issue. He is clearly taller even when she wears her highest heels, so photographers can shoot them naturally.
Royal couples and their height gaps
- William and Catherine: about 16 cm, with him clearly taller
- Charles and Camilla: about 5 cm
- Harry and Meghan: about 15 cm, with Meghan at around 5’7″
- Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip: about 23 cm, one of the biggest gaps in the family
Their love story in numbers
William and Catherine met at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where they both studied in the early 2000s. They announced their engagement in November 2010 and married at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011. They became the Prince and Princess of Wales in September 2022, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Over the years they have appeared side by side at thousands of engagements, which makes them one of the most photographed couples in the world. That is good news for height fans, because there are endless photos to compare.
How the height difference converts
- William: 75 inches × 2.54 = 190.5 cm, rounded to 191 cm
- Catherine: 69 inches × 2.54 = 175.3 cm, rounded to 175 cm
- Difference: 6 inches, or about 15 to 16 cm depending on rounding
- With 9 cm heels, Catherine stands at about 184 cm, just 7 cm below William
Curious how a 191 cm man compares with men in other countries? Our height by country tool shows that William would be tall even in the Netherlands, the tallest nation on the chart.
How the height gap shows up in body language
Body language experts love analyzing royal couples, and the height difference is part of what they look at. Because William is clearly taller, he often tilts his head down slightly when he talks to Catherine at public events, while she looks up and to the side. In walkabouts, he usually leans in when greeting crowds, which brings his height down to the level of the people he is speaking with. Catherine tends to crouch or kneel when talking to children, something both of them do often.
At formal events, like state banquets or the Order of the Garter procession, they walk side by side with very straight posture. That is where the 16 cm difference, minus her heels, is easiest to see.
William among world leaders
At around 191 cm, William is taller than most presidents and prime ministers he meets. On state visits and at international events, he often stands a head above his hosts, which can make group photos look a little unbalanced. Photographers usually place the tallest guests at the back or at the edges of a line-up, and William often ends up in exactly those spots.
Why tall royals stand out in photos
- Group photos are usually shot at eye level of the average person, so taller people look even taller
- Hats and fascinators on women make the line uneven
- Uniforms with caps add a few centimeters
- Steps and balconies, like the one at Buckingham Palace, change everyone’s height
All of this means that a single photo is never enough to judge a royal’s height. It takes many pictures, at many events, to get a reliable picture, and with William and Catherine there are thousands to choose from.
Frequently asked questions about Prince William and Kate Middleton height
How tall is Prince William?
He is reported at about 6 feet 3 inches, or 191 cm.
How tall is Kate Middleton?
The Princess of Wales is reported at about 5 feet 9 inches, or 175 cm.
What is the height difference between William and Kate?
About 16 cm, or 6 inches, barefoot. In heels the gap shrinks to around 7 to 10 cm.
Is Prince William taller than Prince Harry?
Yes. William is about 191 cm and Harry about 186 cm, so William is roughly 5 cm taller.
Is Kate Middleton taller than Meghan Markle?
Yes. Meghan is usually reported at around 5’7″ (170 cm), so Catherine is about 5 cm taller.
Was Princess Diana taller than King Charles?
They were reported at about the same height, around 5’10”, so in heels Diana often looked taller.
Who is the tallest member of the royal family?
Among senior working royals, Prince William is usually considered the tallest, at around 191 cm.
Conclusion
Prince William and Kate Middleton height difference is about 16 cm: he is around 191 cm (6’3″) and she is around 175 cm (5’9″). Both are well above the British average, and her heels make the gap look smaller at most public events. Next to the rest of the family, William stands out as the tallest senior royal, taller than his brother, his father and his late mother.