Over the years Meghan Markle has been branded with a slew of rather unflattering nicknames online, from ‘Me-gain’ to ‘Duchess Difficult’ and ‘MeMeMeghan’.
But perhaps the most bizarre of them all is the report that she was initially christened ‘Tungsten’ by the then Prince Charles because she is ‘tough’ and ‘unbending’.
While it might not appear like the most flattering of comparisons to be named after a type of metal, Charles intended it to be a compliment, and it stuck.
The royals have long called each other by nicknames privately, and the affectionate dubbing was reportedly a way for Charles, 76, to welcome Meghan, 43, into the family.
She was used to using nicknames already. Meghan wasn’t even her real first name after all, it was actually Rachel, but she more commonly used her middle name – going by Meg.
Tungsten was first used by Charles in the early days of Harry and Meghan’s life as working royals, according to the Mail On Sunday’s Charlotte Griffiths in June 2018.
A Palace source told her: ‘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.’
Tungsten is a metal that can be found on the periodic table and is known for its high melting point and core strength.
Meghan Markle was initially nicknamed ‘Tungsten’ by Charles because she is ‘tough’ and ‘unbending’, according to reports
The nickname Tungsten was allegedly first used by Charles in the early days of Harry and Meghan’s life together as working royals. Pictured together at her first Trooping the Colour
Charles and Meghan grew close and he was invited to walk her down the aisle after her father pulled out at the last minute
It is the strongest naturally occurring metal on the planet, so the name was regarded at the time as touching praise.
Katie Nicholl revealed further light on the origin of the nickname in her 2022 book The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown.
She claims that Charles gave Meghan the nickname when she began her life as a working royal after allegedly seeing she was ‘resilient’ and able to hold her own in front of the public.
Nicholl also noted that the meaning behind the nickname was evident in Meghan’s first joint appearance in February 2018 alongside Harry, William, and Kate during an event for the Royal Foundation Forum.
She wrote Meghan was the ‘breakout star’ of the foursome and came across as ‘polished, passionate, and funny’ while using all her TV-honed skills to present her case.
After the event, Charles continued to develop a close bond with Meghan and the pair reportedly grew close.
In May 2018 he walked her down the aisle after her father, Thomas, pulled out of attending the ceremony due to heart surgery.
It was understood Charles was ‘terribly touched’ to have been asked.
Charles walking Meghan down the aisle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19, 2018
Meghan and Harry chat to Charles and Camilla at Royal Ascot in 2018
Meghan joins for Royal Family for the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham in 2017
Charles and Camilla alongside the newly-created Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Buckingham Palace on May 22, 2018
Meghan at the final of the women’s singles final of the US. Open tennis championships between Serena Williams and Bianca Andreescu on September 7, 2019
Harry whispered ‘Thanks, Pa’ and smiled to him as he left Meghan at his side on the altar.
Meghan later thanked Charles for the warm welcome she had given him in an after-dinner speech during the private wedding party at Frogmore House.
Charles was also reportedly impressed by Meghan, telling friends, ‘She is so intelligent and so nice. She makes Harry happy. We could not like her more.’
However what is less clear is whether Charles still sees the Duchess of Sussex’s tungsten characteristics in such a positive light.
Although the ‘tough’ and ‘unbending’ nature of the metal may have been useful when she was on the side of the Royal Family, following Megxit she has become one of the family’s biggest critics.
Tungsten may be one of the most resilient metals on the planet, but in the past Meghan has shown the pressure of royal life getting to her.
The first major sign that she couldn’t cope was the famous 2019 interview by ITV in South Africa, where Meghan unloaded about her wellbeing.
When prompted she said: ‘Thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I’m okay… But it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes.’
The first major sign that Meghan couldn’t cope with being a royal was the famous 2019 interview by ITV in South Africa, where Meghan unloaded about her wellbeing
Meghan and Harry’s engagement interview took place on November 27, 2017
Despite the emotional aspect of the comments, as they were made on a trip to one of the most deprived parts of the world, the complaining was seen as out of touch.
Since then, the Duchess has made a slew of comments complaining about her treatment from the Press, the Palace, the public and the Royal Family itself.
The Firm has remained tight-lipped on the criticism directed its way, but the late Queen Elizabeth famously said that ‘some recollections may vary’ in response to the Oprah interview.
Also, despite its strenths, tungsten is also toxic to most humans and animals, so it may not be a nickname Meghan wants to keep in use.
However it might be better than the nickname she allegedly received from Prince Philip – ‘DOW’.
The Queen’s cheeky husband dubbed her the initials due to how much she reminded him of the American divorcee who broke up the Royal Family in the 1930s, Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, according to royal biographer Ingrid Seward.
Although it seems the Royal Family have now mastered the art of calling Meghan, along with Harry, nothing at all.
In his recent book, A Voyage Around the Queen, the Daily Mail columnist Craig Brown claimed their names now don’t get brought up too often in royal circles.
Prince Philip said it was uncanny how much Meghan (pictured right with Prince Harry in 2018) reminded him of the Duchess of Windsor Wallis Simpson (pictured with Edward in 1966)
Harry and Meghan alongside Charles and Camilla at the Queen’s funeral in September 2022
Broadcaster Gyles Brandreth told Brown that members of the family display their stiff upper lip by having a pretty icy way of referring to the couple.
He said: ‘These days, the names of Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, do not crop up very often in court circles.
‘When they do, courtiers flinch almost imperceptibly and change the subject – or, if that’s not possible, refer to them obliquely as ‘persons who live overseas’.
‘Mention the Sussexes to other members of the Royal Family… and they simply smile briefly and say, ‘We wish them all the best’ – and nothing else.’
Perhaps even being called Tungsten is better than nothing at all.
