They might be known to the vast majority of the world by only their official titles, but the Royal Family also have cute nicknames for each other just like the rest of us. Over the years in a number of interviews, speeches and conversations with strangers, the royals have let slip what some of their pet names for one another are.
Kate Middleton was actually nicknamed after her guinea pig at one point, affectionately called ‘Squeak’, long before she met her husband-to-be Prince William. Here we take a look into the royals’ most unique nicknames and how they all came to be..
Prince Charles has lovely nicknames for him and Camilla
Kate Middleton: Kate was nicknamed “Squeak” as a young girl at St Andrew’s School in Berkshire. She explained how the name came about while on a visit to the school years later, saying: “I was nicknamed Squeak just like my guinea pig!” The Duchess continued: “There was one called Pip and one called Squeak because my sister was called Pippa and I was Squeak.” That wasn’t her only nickname, as Kate was allegedly known as the “Princess-in-waiting” by her fellow Marlborough College pupils.
The Duchess of Cambridge had a few nicknames when she was younger
Princess Charlotte: During a visit to Windsor Park stadium, Princess Charlotte’s mother Kate got chatting to mummy blogger Laura-Ann, who revealed that the Duchess referred to her daughter as ‘Lottie’ instead of ‘Charlotte’ during their conversation. Speaking to Laura-Ann’s toddler son, George, Kate said: “Hello, what’s your name? Hi George, what a cool name you’ve got, and you look very smart in your bow tie. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Revealing their meeting on Instagram Stories, Laura wrote: “So then she asked how old Bertie is, and I said he is four and she said, ‘Oh he’s the same age as Lottie’ – Charlotte, she calls her Lottie!”
Princess Beatrice: The heavily-pregnant royal, 33, has an affectionate nickname used by her family and friends, which her younger sister Princess Eugenie, 32, has revealed multiple times. Princess Beatrice goes by ‘Bea’, and has been referred to as so since she was a child, as we imagine ‘Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of York’ is a bit of a mouthful.
Princess Beatrice is known as Bea
Despite not having a royal title, Beatrice’s husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, also has a pretty long name, and is always referred to as ‘Edo’ by the royal family. Beatrice also has a cute nickname which Eugenie has used from time to time, used once in an Instagram post which celebrated her 31st birthday in August 2019.
Eugenie wrote: “You have been bossing it since before I was born and continue to be the most wonderful person, friend and big sister. “Happy Birthday to you Beabea!! Xx.”
Prince Harry
During an interview with Tom Bradby for ITV documentary Harry and Meghan: An African Journey, Meghan accidentally let slip that she affectionately calls her husband by his first initial. “In all honesty, I have said for a long time to H – that is what I call him – it’s not enough to just survive something, that’s not the point of life”. And then earlier this year, in February 2021, both Harry and Meghan appeared on James Corden’s The Late Late Show.
During the episode, Harry and James visit the famous house used in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Speaking to Meghan over video call, James joked: “You’d be the fresh princess of Bel Air” as he tried to convince the royal couple to buy the mansion, to which the Duchess replies: “That’s wonderful, I think we’ve done enough moving!”
She then changes the subject, asking: “Haz, how’s your tour of LA going?”, as she was away from her husband. A surprised James quipped: “Haz? I didn’t know we were calling you that,” to which Harry cheekily replied: “Well, you’re not my wife.”
Meghan Markle
Meghan and Prince Harry revealed a lot during their Late Late Show appearance, with the Duke revealing to the audience the nickname he calls his wife. Speaking about what his grandmother the Queen got his and Meghan’s son, Archie, for Christmas 2020, Harry said: “Interestingly, my grandmother asked us what Archie wanted for Christmas, and Meg said a waffle maker.
“She [the Queen] sent us a waffle maker for Archie so now, for breakfast, Meg makes up a beautiful organic mix in the waffle maker, flip it, out it comes, he loves it.” He also told the host that “Archie literally wakes up in the morning and says ‘waffle’.”
Archie Mountbatten-Windsor: The Duchess of Sussex revealed her sweet nickname for Archie, as she and Prince Harry celebrated their son’s first birthday on 6 May 2020. In a touching video, Meghan can be heard calling her little boy “Arch” as she encouraged him to turn the pages of his book, Duck! Rabbit!
Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their second child, a daughter called Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, in June 2021. Shortly after, the couple revealed in a statement announcing her birth that she would be known as ‘Lili’. Her full name pays tribute to the Queen’s family nickname ‘Lilibet’ and Prince Harry’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla: Prince Charles and wife Camilla Parker-Bowles had some unusual nicknames for one another when they dated in their twenties.
As seen on season four of The Crown, the now-married couple apparently called one another ‘Fred’ and ‘Gladys’, inspired by characters from BBC radio’s The Goon Show.
