Much like any other family, the Royals often choose to use funny, affectionate nicknames when talking about one another. The Royal Family has built a reputation for their inside jokes, including the giving of humorous Christmas gifts and generally poking fun at one another whenever they can, with nicknames being just part of this
These nicknames can range from charming titles like ‘Cabbage’ or ‘Squeak’, to playful ones such as ‘Gary’ or ‘Stavros’, revealing the Royal Family’s more relaxed and jovial side.
An endearing example of Royal nicknames came to light regarding Princess Charlotte. At the 2019 Chelsea Flower Show, Prince William, while enjoying the ‘Back to Nature Garden’ designed by his wife, was overheard calling out to his daughter.
Instead of her full name, he used the term ‘Mignonette’. This sweet French nickname translates to something along the lines of “small, sweet, and delicate” or simply “cute”.
Furthermore, during a subsequent engagement in Northern Ireland, it was divulged that Kate also has a special name for her daughter, ‘Lottie’, which she casually shared with bystanders who had gathered to meet them, reports the Mirror.
In the Royal family, it’s customary for members to use their first name and their parent’s title as a surname during their school years or professional endeavours. This means that Princess Charlotte is referred to as Charlotte Wales by her peers and educators.
Her older brother follows the same convention, known as George Wales at school. It’s expected that their younger sibling, Louis, will adopt the same style when he starts attending Lambrook School in Berkshire.
This tradition was also observed by Prince William and Prince Harry during their academic and military careers, both adopting the surname Wales, derived from their father’s former title of the Prince of Wales.
However, not all royals choose to follow this practice. The official surname of the Royal Family is Mountbatten-Windsor, and many Royal children opt to use this at school.
For instance, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were known to use this style, rather than being referred to as Beatrice and Eugenie York. Similarly, Prince Harry and Meghan’s children were previously known as Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.
However, in 2023, it was announced that they would be styled as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex, following the couple’s decision not to deny their children their birth rights.