Royal Watchers have been left in a tailspin after the Kate Middleton was overheard referring to her husband William as babe.

The royal couple were having a tour of a show garden at the Chelsea Flower show when the term of endearment popped out.

William has previously referred to her as poppet. 

Thousands of acres of newsprint have been dedicated to the couple's pet names - which are common to couples the world over .. so why the outcry?

Susan Keogh has been speaking to Deputy Editor of the Daily Edge Emer Mc Lysaght about why 'couple speak' is a royal pain in the ass: