Prince Philip had savage 'DoW' nickname for Meghan Markle before he died
It's long been known that the British monarchy are firm fans of pet names - but prior to his death back in 2021, Prince Philip apparently handed a brutal one to his granddaughter-in-law, Meghan Markle.
The Duchess isn't the only 'victim' to the late Prince's nicknames. Phllip famously referred to his wife, Queen Elizabeth II, as 'cabbage' throughout the duration of their marriage.
The term was a reference to the French turn of phrase 'mon petit chou', which essentially their way of saying 'my darling'.
Royal pet names aren't just limited to the father-of-four, however. Queen Elizabeth was also referred to as 'Lilibet' by her own family during her childhood years - a moniker also adopted by Prince Harry and Meghan for their own daughter.
Advert
Harry's dad King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla have also referred to themselves as 'Fred and Gladys' since the early years of their romance - a nod to the BBC radio comedy series The Goon Show.
However, one of the most scandalous nicknames was allegedly given to the Duchess of Sussex (Meghan, for those in need of a reminder of titles) by her grandfather-in-law, Prince Philip.
According to royal sources, not long after Prince Harry had made his plans to wed the former Suits actress clear, his granddad began referring to his future Mrs as 'DoW', this standing for the Duchess of Windsor.
Non-history buffs might need a reminder that this official name was given to American socialite Wallis Simpson, whose romance with the former King Edward VIII in the 1930s resulted in a constitutional crisis.
Edward was forbade by Parliament and the Head of the Church of England from wedding the yank due to the fact she'd already been married and divorced once before. The scandal resulted in Edward's abdication, with Queen Elizabeth's father, King George VI, taking over.
According to royal commentator Ingrid Seward, Philip adopted Wallis' former nickname for Meghan due to the similarities in their home nations, and their relationship histories.
Meghan was previously married to film producer Trevor Engelson, with the two having wed in 2011 and divorcing two years later.
Seward claims that while the late Queen was thrilled that Harry had found himself an American partner due to the prospect of what they might be able to achieve for the Commonwealth, Philip was reportedly much more frosty in his view.
"While the Queen continued to champion Harry’s new love, he warned his wife to be cautious. It was uncanny, he told her, how much Meghan reminded him of the Duchess of Windsor," she said, as per the Daily Mail.
"He wasn’t simply referring to the fact that both were pencil-slim, dark-haired and glamorous American divorcees."
Prior to Philip's death, Meghan and Harry made a move not too dissimilar from Edward and Wallis' by resigning from their royal responsibilities as senior royals and fleeing the UK to set up shop in the States.
Topics: Meghan Markle, Royal Family, The Queen
Rhianna Benson