Overview
- On January 12, Richie posted a birthday photo carousel captioned “18 years of you” and tagged @katemaddennn.
- Joel Madden and Benji Madden referred to her as “Kate” in comments, reinforcing the name shown in the tag.
- The shared images reveal a striking update to her look with long jet-black hair, contrasting earlier blonde appearances.
- Coverage notes the family’s typically private stance, making these images a rare glimpse into their home life.
- No formal announcement of a legal name change has been made, with reporting based on social-media cues and fan questions.