Prince Charles invented this secret nickname for Meghan Markle after she joined the Royal Family

Prince Charles's unusual nickname for Meghan Markle reflects his true feelings about her, says royal expert

Meghan Markle
(Image credit: Anwar Hussein / Contributor / Getty Images)

Prince Charles's secret nickname for Meghan Markle may reveal his true feelings towards his daughter-in-law, a royal expert has claimed. 


Prince Charles's unconventional nickname for the Duchess of Sussex reflects how he truly views her, according to journalist Christine-Marie Liwag Dixon. 

The future King reportedly calls Meghan 'Tungsten' after the super-steely metal, in a sweet nod to her "resilient" disposition. He created the quirky nickname when he noticed the duchess's strength in the face of the media scrutiny that succeeded her wedding to Prince Harry in 2017, and it seems to have stuck ever since. 

"It seems that Prince Charles had a lot of respect for Meghan's resilient nature," Christine-Marie Liwag said on The List. 

The sweet nickname was first revealed by royal news editor Russell Meyers in 2019. Speaking on Lorraine, the insider explained that Charles chose 'Tungsten' because it's "tough and unbending"—just like Meghan. 

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 22: (L-R) Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend The Prince of Wales' 70th Birthday Patronage Celebration held at Buckingham Palace on May 22, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Prince Charles laughing with Camilla Parker Bowles and Meghan Markle at his 70th birthday party in 2018 

(Image credit: Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

"It’s a bit of a weird one but I think he really respects her," Russell added. "He thinks she has managed to deal with it [the media coverage] well." 

The former actor joined the Royal Family in 2018 when she married Prince Harry in a stunning ceremony. Meghan Markle's wedding dress has gone down in royal fashion history and the couple's joy on their big day brought a smile to fans' faces. Following their marriage, Meghan retired from the world of acting after making her name on the hit legal TV series. Meghan Markle's Suits role came to an end in 2017, marking her official retirement from Hollywood to become a full-time working royal. 

The royal expert also shared his belief that the Prince of Wales related to Meghan, having been scalded more than once by the UK tabloids himself. 

"He has had his fair share of bad press in the past, a lot of crisis in his life, so I think he’s trying to get her to navigate the choppy waters of joining the Royal Family," he said. 

Speaking of affectionate names, it looks like the guessing game on what the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will call their daughter-to-be is in full swing. While some royal fans have predicted Harry and Meghan will name their baby girl Prince Philip after the deceased consort, others are convinced Diana be chosen as a tribute to the late princess. 

Details for their second baby's arrival have yet to be confirmed, but the duchess is due to give birth sometime this summer. Meghan is expected to have an early labor because of her unique genetic condition and deliver the infant at one of these luxurious maternity hospitals

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.

Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.