Surprising nicknames The Royals use with each other

The royals are just like any other family, which means they all have nicknames for each other. Here are seven royal nicknames we bet you've never heard before. 

What Kate calls Princess Charlotte 

Kate Middleton.

During a visit to Belfast a few years ago, Kate was chatting to blogger Laura-Ann in Belfast, where she had joined the crowds to greet the Prince and Princess of Wales along with her two-year-old son. When Laura-Ann mentioned she had another, older son, Bertie, who's four, Kate Middleton commented that he's nearly the same age as "Lottie".

What Prince George calls Williams

While visiting Leicester, Kate Middleton spoke to a member of the crowd who later told reporters: "Kate said that William was playing football with the children last night and one of them said, I think it was George, 'Are you playing football tomorrow, Pops?'"

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Savannah Phillips, Prince George of Cambridge watch the flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour on June 9, 2018 in London, England. The annual ceremony involving over 1400 guardsmen and cavalry, is believed to have first been performed during the reign of King Charles II. The parade marks the official birthday of the Sovereign, even though the Queen's actual birthday is on April 21st

What Prince George called the Queen

Queen Elizabeth II.

In an interview in April 2016 to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday, Kate Middleton revealed a sweet detail about her eldest son's relationship with his great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

"George is only two-and-a-half and he calls her Gan-Gan," Kate said. 

What Prince Philip called the Queen 

According to royal biographer Robert Lacey, speaking to The Sunday Times back in 2006, the Duke of Edinburgh affectionately called his wife 'Cabbage'.

"Yes, I've heard that is how he will sometimes refer to her," Lacey said.

What Diana called Prince William

Princess Diana.

In a 2007 interview with Matt Lauer for NBC, the Prince explained how the nickname "wombat" came about. "It began when I was two. I've been rightfully told because I can't remember back that far," Prince William said.

"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."

From left to right, Princess Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth, King George VI, and Princess Margaret Rose wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace August 15, 1945 on VJ Day in London, England. The Queen Mother died in her sleep March 30, 2002 at the age of 101. (Photo by Getty Images)

What the Queen Mother called the Queen 

As both women were called Elizabeth, the Queen famously became known as Lilibeth, even signing the wreath on her mother's coffin as such. 

Queen Elizabeth's father, King George VI, famously used to say about his two daughters: "Lilibet is my pride. Margaret is my joy."

What Kate called the Queen 

While the rest of the world was required to address Queen Elizabeth as Ma'am or your majesty, those closest to her are allowed to refer to her as Mama, according to Ingrid Seward, the editor of Majesty magazine.

* Originally published in April 2019. Updated in 2022.