King Charles gave Meghan Markle odd but kind nickname

TERM OF ENDEARMENT: King Charles’ nickname for Meghan was an endearing term based on her ‘strength’ (Photo by Richard Pohle – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Reporting by Rebecca Russell

The Royal Family are known for their long, official and very serious titles, however one nickname given to Meghan Markle by King Charles reminds us that the famous family love a nickname.

Behind the formality and away from the media spotlight, the royals are just like us more than you may think and the strange, but endearing, nickname reportedly bestowed on Meghan Markle by King Charles goes to show that it’s not always pomp and ceremony, as reported by The Daily Mirror.

Before Harry and Meghan married in May 2018, a source revealed what the-then Prince Charles used as a nickname when referring to his future daughter-in-law Meghan Markle. Royal expert, Katie Nicholl’s book ‘The New Royals’ explains that the King admired Meghan’s strength of character and gave her an appropriate name to reflect this.

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Nicholl wrote in the book: “Charles reportedly nicknamed his future daughter-in-law ‘Tungsten’ because of her toughness and resilience.” However, this is not the first time that Charles’ nickname for Meghan has been reported.

In June 2018, the Daily Mail wrote that Charles called Meghan ‘Tungsten’, a type of metal, because she is “tough and unbending.” A source told the Mail on Sunday at the time: “Prince Charles admires Meghan for her strength and the backbone she gives Harry, who needs a tungsten-type figure in his life as he can be a bit of a softy. It’s become a term of endearment.”

This is not the first time that simple but sweet nickname usage in the palace has been reported. The late Queen, for example, had a handful of nicknames which were used by her nearest and dearest, from ‘cabbage’ to ‘sausage’ to ‘Gan Gan’ and even ‘Lilibet’. Although one nickname perhaps stands out above them all.

According to Daily Mail, when a young Prince William was playing at Buckingham Palace, he took a little trip and cried out for help, but instead of shouting for ‘Granny’, he called for ‘Gary’. The column reports: “A guest who went to help asked who Gary was, assuming it must be a member of the royal household. ‘I’m Gary,’ responded the Queen. ‘He hasn’t learned to say Granny yet’.”

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