US cyclist pedals right into mix-up

Yes, she really is Kate Middleton.

Kate Middleton, the Boston bicycle enthusiast, that is.

But that hasn’t stopped the 32-year-old from being confused with the woman who is about to marry Prince William.

Recently, Facebook accused the Boston Middleton of being an impostor and deleted her account. And reporters keep showing up at ATA Cycle, the Concord, Massachusetts, shop where she works, and asking her to speak in a British accent.

“I’m really not interested in pretending I’m British,” said Ms Middleton, originally from Louisville, Kentucky. “And I’m not really interested in pretending I’m the other Kate Middleton so I basically refused on all five requests to speak in a British accent.”

The mix-up began in January after Ms Middleton tried to log on to her Facebook account, only to find it had been suspended on suspicion of it being fake. She told Facebook that yes, her name was Kate Middleton and asked if she could have her account back.

“Facebook disabled my account for using a fake name,” she tweeted after the Facebook deletion. “Will the real Kate Middleton please stand up?”

She soon discovered that Facebook had also untagged her in all of her photos. “Further evidence one doesn’t really exist unless they are royalty...” she quickly tweeted.

The account was reinstated about a week later.

But she wasn’t the only Kate Middleton to face a temporary ban on the popular social media site as the royal wedding approaches. At least three others – an Australian woman and two Britons all named Kate Middleton – have been booted off Facebook and were later allowed back only after proving that they really were Kate Middletons.

Facebook bans users who open fake accounts, according to a spokeswoman. Facebook executives have said some mistakes are inevitable as they try to keep the social network secure.