Within the royal family’s private spaces, titles are set aside, and personal nicknames come into play. Meghan Markle affectionately refers to her husband, Prince Harry, as ‘Haz’ or ‘H’. Similarly, the late Queen was known as Lilibet among family members, and Prince William used to affectionately call her ‘Gary’ in his youth due to difficulty pronouncing ‘grandma’.
The younger members of the royal family, including Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, have endearing terms for their elders as well. They share tales of ‘Granny Diana’ and playfully address King Charles as ‘Grandpa Wales’.
This tradition harks back to when a young Queen Elizabeth referred to her grandfather, George V, as ‘Grandad England’. However, when it comes to Queen Camilla, the conventional titles of ‘grandma’ or ‘nanny’ are eschewed. Instead, Camilla is affectionately known as ‘Gaga’, being a proud grandmother to five, including the Wales children, Archie, and Lilibet, the children of Meghan and Harry.
During a heartwarming moment at the 2016 Royal Variety Performance, Camilla shared with Lady Gaga that her step-grandchildren lovingly called her ‘GaGa’. Reflecting on this, Camilla mentioned to the Daily Mail that her own grandchildren also call her GaGa, finding humor in the shared nickname.
In another instance, Prince George had a sweet moniker for his great-grandmother, the late Queen, referring to her as “Gan-Gan”. The Princess of Wales once revealed this endearing nickname, highlighting the special bond between the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince George.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, before stepping back from their royal duties, shared a unique bond with King Charles. Meghan was nicknamed ‘Tungsten’ by King Charles for the resilience she displayed, showcasing a special connection within the family.
Prince Harry himself has been known by various nicknames over the years. From ‘Spike’ due to his teenage hairstyle to ‘Harold’ from his brother, he has also been called ‘Baz’, ‘Haz’, and ‘Scrawny’, the latter being a nickname given to him by palace staff.
Prince George, too, has a playful nickname within the family, being called ‘PG Tips’ or simply ‘Tips’, possibly a nod to his initials coinciding with the famous tea brand.
In the royal circle, other members also have unique nicknames, like Mike Tindall’s humorous nickname for Prince William, ‘One Pint Willy’, poking fun at the Prince of Wales’s alcohol tolerance.
These endearing and sometimes humorous nicknames add a personal touch to the esteemed members of the Royal Family, showcasing a different side to their public personas.