Endearing Nicknames the Royal Family Has For One Another
Cabbage, Mignonette, and Magic Dust — would you believe us if we told you these are all nicknames one member or another of the royal family answers to when beckoned? From Queen Elizabeth II down the Windsor line, the royals have many monikers for one another that aren’t often used in public settings, but certainly are when the family trades their gilded regalia for country clothing.
Some of these names have been overheard at events attended by the royals, such as Kate Middleton’s pet names for her youngest children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. A great many were divulged in Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, including his nicknames for King Charles, Prince William, and Princess Diana. If you’re anything like us, the name he uses to address his late mother will put you in your feelings, so grab a tissue in advance.
A few of the Windsors’ most-used names are actually nicknames in and of themselves, as well. Harry and Kate are included in this group, as their formal first names are different than the names they use on a daily basis. And get this: one member of the royal family goes by their middle name, which isn’t really common knowledge!
For every nickname used by the royals within the family, from the late queen to her namesake great-granddaughter, scroll on.
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Prince Archie: Arch and Bubba
Meghan Markle has two adorable nicknames for her son, Prince Archie. A 2020 video posted to the Sussexes’ official Instagram showed the duchess reading a book to the little royal and saying, “Let’s go to the next page — Look, Arch!”
People also reported that video footage from the family’s 2019 trip to South Africa caught the Suits alum calling the baby boy “Bubba.”
Princess Beatrice: Beabea
In 2019, Princess Eugenie revealed the most adorable nickname she has for her big sister, Princess Beatrice: “Beabea.”
Wishing her a happy 31st birthday on Instagram, 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!!”
King Charles: Pa and Grandpa Wales
Prince Harry revealed the short and sweet name he uses for his father in his memoir, Spare: “Pa.”
In contrast to the humble moniker bestowed upon him by his son, King Charles’ eldest grandson has a rather regal nickname for the monarch: “Grandpa Wales.” According to the Daily Mail, the distinguished nickname stems from Charles’ previous title of Prince of Wales.
'Spare' by Prince Harry
Queen Camilla: Gaga
It’s been reported that Prince William’s kids and Prince Harry’s kids call Queen Camilla “Gaga.” During a 2016 Royal Variety Performance, Camilla told singer Lady Gaga, “My own grandchildren call me ‘Gaga.’ I don’t know if it’s because they think I am! It is funny but is still very sweet.”
Princess Charlotte: Lottie and Mignonette
Princess Charlotte’s mum has a very cute nickname for her little girl that’s a shortened version of her full name. Chatting with a well-wisher during her 2019 trip to Northern Ireland with Prince William, Kate Middleton reportedly called her daughter “Lottie,” per the Daily Mail.
If you thought that was adorable, hold on to your pants (or should we say trousers in the spirit of all things British?). William’s nickname for his only daughter is absolutely precious — and ultra-posh.
In a video posted on Twitter by Kensington Palace in 2019, the future king addresses Charlotte as “Mignonette” — a French word that means “dainty” and “cute.”
Princess Diana: “Mummy” and “Grandma Diana”
In Spare, Prince Harry also revealed the touching name he still uses for his late mother all these years after her death. Throughout the book, he addresses Princess Diana as “Mummy,” and there’s just something so heartwrenching about him calling her that as a fully grown man who still misses her so desperately.
Harry has also referred to his mom as “Grandma Diana” in many instances involving his children, including in the Netflix miniseries, Harry & Meghan. Anyone else’s eyes suddenly feeling a bit misty?
Queen Elizabeth: Lilibet, Cabbage, Gan-Gan, Gary, and Granny
The late queen had many festive nicknames, including a rather hilarious pet name from Prince Philip: “Cabbage.” Royal biographer Robert Lacey confirmed the quirky moniker’s existence in 2006 after it was used in the movie The Queen. Although it’s never been confirmed, the late prince also used to allegedly call his wife “Sausage” — we love the food theme.
Before she was dubbed “Cabbage,” Queen Elizabeth was known as “Lilibet” by the royal family — a nickname that is now her great-granddaughter’s formal first name. Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, was known to say, “Lilibet is my pride. Margaret is my joy,” of his two daughters.
And, as is the case for many grandmothers, the late monarch answered to a few variations of “grandma,” including “Gan-Gan,” “Gary,” and “Granny.
Harry addresses his grandmother as “Granny” throughout Spare, and William reportedly had a difficult time pronouncing the word as a child, rather funnily calling the queen “Gary” instead. The Daily Mail reported that a guest heard a young Will asking for “Gary,” and when they inquired as to who Gary was, Queen Elizabeth answered, “I’m Gary,” before adding, “He hasn’t learned to say ‘Granny’ yet.”
Taking after his father, Prince George also settled for a shortened version of “Granny” as a wee tot. During an ITV special in honor of the queen’s 90th birthday, Princess Kate revealed her son began calling the monarch “Gan-Gan” at 2 years old. Queen Elizabeth was truly a woman of many names!
Princess Eugenie & Baby Ernest: Euge, Magic Dust, & Ernie
Sarah Ferguson, known as Fergie, revealed two nicknames she has for her youngest daughter, Princess Eugenie. In 2020, the Duchess of York wished Eugenie a happy 30th birthday on Instagram and adorably called her “my little magic dust.” We’d love to know the origin story behind that one!
During a 2021 photoshoot for a Town & Country interview, Fergie revealed another family nickname of her daughter’s as well. She stood on a rope swing in her backyard with a seat carrying the inscription “Euge & Jack” — a nod to the princess and her husband, Jack Brooksbank.
Princess Eugenie welcomed her secondborn, Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank, in May 2023. Fergie revealed in an episode of her podcast, Tea Talks with the Duchess and Sarah that she calls her grandson “Ernie.”
Prince Harry: Darling Boy, Haz, H, Spike, and My Love
It could be argued that “Harry” is one of Prince Harry’s nicknames, as his name given at birth is Henry. In addition to his usual moniker that may or may not be a nickname, the Duke of Sussex revealed the sweet name his “Pa” calls him in Spare: “Darling Boy.” Although the nickname debuted when he was a child, King Charles still uses the moniker for his youngest son, according to Harry.
Additionally, his wife and pals refer to him as “Haz” (a common British nickname for “Harry”) and “H,” which was originally bestowed upon him by Meghan.
In the Sussexes’ 2019 documentary, Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, the Suits alum says, “I’ve said for a long time to H — that’s what I call him — it’s not enough to just survive something, right? That’s not the point of life. You’ve got to thrive; you’ve got to feel happy.”
Meghan also has a more endearing nickname for her husband: “My Love.” When the couple attended a 2018 performance of Hamilton at London’s Victoria Palace Theater, the duchess was overheard asking Harry, “My love, can you see?”
It may not be used by those in the royal family, but the duke has another very unique nickname that originated in 2008 and has stuck with some of his friends. In an effort to fly under the radar on social media, Harry used the alias “Spike Wells” on MySpace, which he also mentions in Spare.
Kate Middleton: Cath
Like her brother-in-law, Kate Middleton’s most commonly used name is actually a nickname — her given name is Catherine. The Princess of Wales revealed during a 2017 radio interview with BBC that Harry derived a nickname from her formal name that he uses for her in casual gatherings: “Cath.”
Princess Lilibet: Lili
During an episode of her hit podcast, Archetypes, Meghan Markle referred to her daughter simply as “Lili.”
A little fun fact: The duchess also revealed on her podcast that her mom, Doria Ragland, has a floral-inspired nickname for her as well. “My mum still calls me ‘Flower,'” Meghan shared, funnily adding, “I’ll be a 41-year-old Flower. That’s fine.”
Prince Louis: Lou-Bugs
Kate Middleton’s precious nickname for her youngest son was revealed during a May 2023 Big Help Out event attended by the entire Wales family. In a video shared on Twitter, the mom of three says to Prince Louis as she helps him make a s’more, “Pop this in the fire, Lou-Bugs.”
We’ve gotta say, between Lottie and Lou-Bugs, Kate comes up with some seriously cute nicknames.
Meghan Markle: Meg, M, and Tungsten
Just like her shortened nicknames for her husband, Harry has two similar brief names for Meghan: “Meg” and “M.” The former made its public debut in 2018 at the Invictus Games reception in Sydney, Australia, and the latter moniker was used by the prince during the Harry & Meghan Netflix miniseries.
King Charles also bestowed his daughter-in-law with an extremely unique, albeit fitting, nickname in 2018: “Tungsten.” The Daily Mail reported that, according to a source, His Majesty started using the moniker for Meghan after the wedding fallout with her father. It’s a reference to the extremely durable metal, which he likened to her strong and resilient personality.
And fun fact: “Meghan” is actually the Suits alum’s middle name. Her legal first name is Rachel!
Prince William: Wombat, Willy, Will, and Babe
When Prince William accompanied his parents on a trip to Australia as a child, he returned home to England with a new nickname: “Wombat.” He explained the origin story of the funny moniker in 2007 during an interview with NBC.
“It began when I was two,” the prince began. “I’ve been rightfully told because I can’t remember back that far, but when we went to Australia with our parents, and the wombat, you know, that’s the local animal, so I just basically got called that, not because I look like a wombat — or maybe I do,” he joked.
Additionally, Harry addressed his older brother as “Willy” throughout Spare. The Prince of Wales is most commonly referred to as “Will” — and Princess Kate of course has a mushy pet name for her husband.
During the 2016 Chelsea Flower Show, other attendees overheard her say, “Babe, we’ve got those. We’ve got loads of those,” in conversation with the prince about the plant selection.
Future King of England by day, Babe by night, and Wombat at all family gatherings. He’s a man of many monikers, what can he say.
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