Names are a tricky thing, especially if you’re a child still getting to grips with the English language. While the Royal Family are clearly no slouches in the elocution department, back when Prince William was little it took him a while for him to master the word “granny”.
According to Richard Kay, a columnist for The Mirror, Prince William used to call her “Gary” instead.
He explained that one day, Prince William fell over while zooming around Buckingham Palace and began crying out for somebody called Gary.
Queen Elizabeth apparently helped pick him up and was asked who the mysterious man was. Later she reportedly said, “I'm Gary. He hasn't learned to say granny yet."
Although Prince William has (sadly) grown out of calling the Queen Gary, his children Prince George and Princess Charlotte call their great grandmother “Gan-Gan”.
Another unusual royal nickname is one that Prince Charles has apparently given Meghan Markle. A palace insider told the Daily Mail that the Prince of Wales calls his daughter-in-law “Tungsten”, one of the strongest metals in the world.
The source said, “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.”
Queen Elizabeth II - In pictures
