King Charles' 'strange' nickname for Meghan Markle explained
Meghan and Harry are back in the UK which means that the former Suits actor might have to get used to the unusual nickname from her father-in-law once again.
After a spell in the US which involved a controversial Netflix documentary and having two kids, it seems as if they're back in the UK for good, even if they won't be resuming their royal duties.
Although they're still known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, they will be private citizens during their time in the UK and it doesn't seem if they're going to be reconciling with King Charles or Harry's brother Prince William any time soon.
The King made it clear in a recent letter that they still won't be considered working royals but in his letter he referred to Meghan by her official title, rather than the nickname which he gave to her when the two first met ahead of their royal wedding in 2018.
Advert
It's been reported on a number of occasions over the past eight years or so that the King likes to give our nicknames and the one he's seemingly chosen for Meghan is 'Tungsten'.
If you recall your GCSE science you might well recognise that as the chemical element with the atomic number of 74, which seems like a bizarre choice for Meghan, but he apparently has good reason for it.
In royal expert Katie Nicholl's book The New Royals, she writes: "Charles reportedly nicknamed his future daughter-in-law 'Tungsten' because of her toughness and resilience."
Back in 2018, the Daily Mail also suggested that that Charles dubbed Meghan 'Tungsten', due to her being 'tough and unbending'.
A source told the Mail on Sunday at the time: "Prince Charles admires Meghan for her strength and the backbone she gives Harry, who needs a tungsten-type figure in his life as he can be a bit of a softy. It's become a term of endearment."
However, it's unclear if the King was particularly impressed with Meghan's 'resilience and toughness' when it meant quitting royal duties to go and live in America, something he seemingly reinforced with his recent letter to the public.
It stated: "Following the decision by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to relocate to the UK, we have received a number of requests for guidance. To help avoid doubt or confusion, The King has directed that the following information be shared.
“It is well known that in January 2020 the Duke and Duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of The Sovereign, and are no longer working Members of The Royal Family.
“This position, distinct from the State and Royal duties undertaken by the working Royal Family, and with the personal latitude it brings the couple in respect of financial independence and protection of their privacy as they would wish, will continue to be fully respected.
"It follows that there is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used.
“The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity.
“In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”
Topics: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Royal Family, Celebrity News, UK News
James Moorhouse