While most of us recognize her as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, those closer to her and within royal circles have crafted an array of nicknames, ranging from affectionate to critical.

In a preview of his forthcoming book, “Queen Elizabeth II,” royal biographer Hugo Vickers discloses that Meghan was dubbed ‘Sparkles’ after her first Christmas spent at Sandringham in 2017. This particular nickname emerged after she joined Prince Harry for the traditional walkabout and church service as his fiancée, a move that broke from the usual protocol. Her charm and charisma during this event left such a positive impression that the staff affectionately coined the term.

However, the late Prince Philip was less inclined towards personal endearments, opting instead for the more detached reference of ‘the American.’ This wasn’t the only nickname he had for her; according to royal author Ingrid Seward, he later referred to Meghan as ‘DoW,’ shorthand for the Duchess of Windsor.

Seward explains in her 2024 book, “My Mother And I,” that this nickname carried deeper connotations. It went beyond their shared characteristics of being slender, dark-haired, and glamorous American divorcees. Prince Philip’s remark was laced with a significant amount of underlying meaning.

It wouldn’t be Meghan’s only nickname from Philip, who later referred to her as ‘DoW’, standing for the Duchess of Windsor, royal author Ingrid Seaward claimed.

‘He wasn’t simply referring to the fact that both were pencil-slim, dark-haired and glamorous American divorcees. There was a wealth of subtext in his barbed remark,’ she wrote in her 2024 book, My Mother And I.

 ‘When she was just ten, Princess Elizabeth’s beloved father had suddenly become King, after Edward VIII – later the Duke of Windsor – abdicated for the sake of marrying Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.

‘This caused a permanent rift in the royal family: the new King George VI refused to receive her and denied her the appellation of Her Royal Highness. For her part, the American duchess openly mocked the Queen (later Queen Mother) as ‘the fat Scotch cook’.

The Duchess of Sussex has developed a string of nicknames, some favourable and others less so (pictured with the late Queen Elizabeth II in Widnes in 2018)

The Queen Mother later blamed the Duke and Duchess of Windsor for her husband’s untimely death, which, she claimed, resulted from the stress caused by the couple’s actions.

‘She never forgave the Duchess, whom she cast as a wicked enchantress,’ Seaward wrote.

‘From the start of Edward’s affair with Wallis – then still married – he had been infatuated with her to the point that he soon began to neglect his royal duties. Once, when he asked Wallis to light a cigarette for him, she replied: “Only if you ask properly” – at which point he got down on his knees and begged like a dog.’

Meghan’s various nicknames is a topic royal author Andrew Morton has also touched on, revealing that Charles, then the Prince of Wales, and future Queen Consort Camilla took a much warmer stance.

Charles dubbed his daughter-in-law ‘Tungsten’ because he felt she was ‘tough and unbending’, the author, who has published a string of royal biographies, claimed.

The name was intended as a compliment from Charles, who admires strong, independent women, and was excited by the prospect of another joining his family, says Morten.

As time went on, Meghan’s personality led royal staff to develop yet another nickname, Mystic Meg, due to her ‘woke’ and ‘new agey’ beliefs, royal author Tom Quinn claimed in Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants.

Aides also grew concerned that she had transformed her husband into a ‘tree-hugging leftie’ who rejected the ‘values and traditions of his family’.

Pictured: Prince Harry, King Charles, Queen Camilla and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at Charles’ 70th Birthday Patronage Celebration at Buckingham Palace in London in 2018

Older members of staff thought Meghan was ‘Mrs Simpson come back to haunt us’, yet another reference to American divorcée Wallis Simpson.

One former staffer said Harry had become ‘far more concerned about social issues and the rights of minorities than he’d ever been before Meghan’s arrival’.

Quinn noted that, while some of the youngest staff at Kensington Palace applauded Harry’s stance, older staff thought he had gone awry.

Meghan’s nickname, Mystic Meg, referenced the late astrologer who rose to fame in the 1990s by writing horoscopes and performing various astrology-related feats.

She was raised by her yoga instructor mother, Doria Ragland, who has been described as a ‘hippie’ in the past.

Meghan’s beliefs as a youngster were outlined in 2015 when she made a speech at the United Nations, where she told the story of how she had complained about a sexist TV advert when she was just 11 years old.

Quinn also claimed that Meghan was branded the ‘Duchess of Difficult’ by some staff members.

The author described how Kensington Palace staff split into ‘for Meghan’ and ‘against Meghan’, and the atmosphere became one of ‘swirling rumour, gossip and backbiting’.