King Charles reportedly has a surprising nickname for Meghan Markle that may reveal how he truly viewed her during her early years as a royal.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have remained a source of public fascination and controversy since stepping back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020.

While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex now live in California, far removed from official royal responsibilities, they continue to attract global attention.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal fallout explained

The tensions between the couple and the royal family became impossible to ignore following their headline-making interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021.

During the conversation, Harry and Meghan made several explosive allegations, including the claim that discussions had taken place within the royal family regarding the possible skin color of their unborn child.

Although Prince Harry later clarified that neither Queen Elizabeth II nor Prince Philip made the comments, the couple has never publicly identified who was responsible.

Harry also voiced frustration that the royal family failed to address what he described as the ‘colonial undertones’ present in media coverage of Meghan.

He noted that while numerous female Members of Parliament had publicly condemned the treatment Meghan received, his own family chose not to speak out.

According to Harry, that silence ‘hurt.’ The couple also criticized the British media, describing it as ‘bigoted’ and accusing it of creating an atmosphere of ‘control and fear,’ according to the BBC.

Prince Harry’s long-standing battle with the media

Years before the Sussexes left royal life behind, Prince Harry had already taken a public stand against the press over its treatment of Meghan.

In November 2016, shortly after news of their relationship emerged, Kensington Palace issued a statement on Harry’s behalf condemning the media coverage surrounding Markle.

The statement highlighted the racial undertones present in some commentary and called out the harassment she faced, including invasions of privacy and attempts to investigate her personal history.

Prince Harry also expressed fears for Meghan’s safety and frustration over his inability to shield her from the scrutiny, stating: “This is not a game – it is her life and his.”

Later, in his memoir Spare, Harry claimed that the statement reportedly upset both King Charles and Prince William, who believed it cast them in an unfavorable light because they had not publicly defended their own wives in the same way.

According to Newsweek, the statement remained accessible through a link until at least December 3, 2023, but had disappeared by December 10. No official explanation was given for its removal.

Meghan Markle’s changing relationship with King Charles

The complicated dynamics within the royal family have continued to evolve over the years.

At one point, however, King Charles reportedly appeared to have a warm relationship with Meghan.

In the Sussexes’ Netflix documentary, Meghan reflected on the emotional moment Charles stepped in to walk her down the aisle after her father was unable to attend the wedding.

She described the King as ‘very charming’ and spoke about how meaningful it was for him to take on that role during such an important moment in her life.

Since then, relations between Meghan and the royal family have reportedly become strained.

Recent reports suggest Prince Harry has been trying to strengthen his relationship with his father following the King’s cancer diagnosis.

While Harry is reportedly eager for Archie and Lilibet to spend time with their grandfather, Meghan is said to remain hesitant about returning to the UK because of past tensions.

The surprising nickname King Charles reportedly gave Meghan Markle

Despite the challenges that would later emerge, royal author Katie Nicholl claimed that King Charles once had a particularly flattering nickname for Meghan.

According to Nicholl, as reported by the Mirror, Charles referred to Meghan as ‘Tungsten’ during her early days within the royal family.

The nickname was reportedly intended as a compliment, with tungsten being known for its strength and durability.

Charles is said to have admired Meghan’s resilience and toughness as she adapted to life in the royal spotlight, viewing her as someone capable of standing firm under intense pressure.