Have you ever wondered what King Charles and Queen Camilla call each other behind closed doors? During their early courtship, it was widely reported that King Charles jokingly called Queen Camilla 'Gladys', while she referred to him as 'Fred', pet names believed to be inspired by characters on the BBC radio programme The Goon Show.
A year ago, however, King Charles memorably let another pet name for his wife slip during a public engagement.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were planting a tree alongside Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia when King Charles referred to his wife by the endearing term "darling".
© Getty ImagesInstructing Queen Camilla on where to put soil around the tree, His Majesty cajoled: "On this side, darling, this side," revealing the cute pet name for his beloved wife.
The importance of pet names
Not just a friendly way of referring to your significant other, a new survey revealed that pet names are crucial in a relationship.
"Nicknames are more than just labels; they're a shorthand for shared history, inside jokes and personal connections," Charlotte Butt, Senior Marketing Manager from Coca-Cola Trademark, previously explained to HELLO!. "They reflect the unique relationships between individuals."
© GettyQueen Camilla's nicknames
As well as 'darling' and 'Gladys' from her husband, Queen Camilla has been given several nicknames by her family.
Her grandchildren call her 'Gaga' (very glam!), while other friends and family jokingly call her 'Lorraine', a play on the French word for Queen, La Reine.
Royal writer Robert Hardman, in his biography, Charles III, said a friend of Camilla's told him: "She always saw the funny side of that – even if Prince Charles did not."
© Getty ImagesIn her school days, the Queen was referred to as Milla by her peers while attending the Queen's Gate School in London.
Perhaps the sweetest pet name comes from her husband, however. Writing in his biography of the late Queen, Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait, royal expert Gyles Brandreth revealed that King Charles likes to call Camilla"Mehbooba," which is Urdu for "my beloved."
Urdu, the official language of Pakistan, is commonly spoken in India, a country Charles has visited 10 times and has a profound affinity for.
King Charles' nicknames
His Majesty has a few nicknames too, including 'Uppa' from Queen Camilla's grandchildren, 'Grandpa Wales' from Prince William and Princess Kate’s kids, and the affectionate 'old bean' by his beloved sister, Princess Anne.
© Paul Marriott/ShutterstockThe cute nickname was revealed in a documentary about the royal's 2022 coronation, with the cheeky greeting prompting King Charles to laugh out loud, suggesting that the unusual moniker used by his sister Anne is a regular favourite.
Amused by the encounter, he proceeded to lovingly shake his sister's hand in a touching display of affection. We love little insights into the private lives of the royals!
