Sweet story behind Prince Philip’s sweet nickname for the Queen
As the world remembers and pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip's sweet nickname for his wife has re-emerged.
Their relationship spanned seven decades and came to an end with Philip's death in April 2021 at the age of 99.
A loving nickname was confirmed by the Queen's biographer Robert Lacey, who revealed this is 'sometimes' how Prince Philip refers to Her Majesty.
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In what may come as a surprise for even the most dedicated royalists, the Prince's pet name for the Queen was 'Cabbage'.
In the 2006 biographical film The Queen, which starred Helen Mirren in the titular role of Queen Elizabeth II, Philip (played by James Cromwell) is shown getting into bed and saying: “Move over, Cabbage”.
Peter Morgan, the film’s screenwriter, revealed his inquiries into ‘royal circles’ told him that was the Queen’s nickname.
“I inquired in royal circles and was told on very good authority that that is what the duke sometimes calls the Queen,” he told The Times in 2006.
Peter went on to create the critically acclaimed Netflix series The Crown for which he also serves as showrunner since it began in 2016.
Speculation about the origin of the adorable nickname is rife however some experts have suggested it came from the French phrase ‘mon petit chou’. This can translate to ‘my little cabbage’ or ‘my little pastry puff’.
Before his death last April, Philip endured a lengthy hospital stay.
He was treated at two London hospitals for an undisclosed infection in addition to a heart condition, before returning to Windsor to be with his wife the Queen.
The Queen and Prince Philip were married in November 1947 and celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary in 2021. He was described by the monarch on their golden wedding anniversary as her 'strength and stay'.
In November 1997, in a tribute to speech to mark their Golden wedding anniversary, the Queen said: "He is someone who doesn't take easily to compliments but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know."
News of Her Majesty's passing was confirmed by the Buckingham Palace, which issued a statement on Thursday evening.
The statement announced that the 96-year-old monarch had died 'peacefully' at Balmoral in Scotland.
The date of Her Majesty's funeral and will be announced in due course.
Topics: News, Royal Family, The Queen
Gregory Robinson