Behind the royal palace doors, the use of casual nicknames is common, including those on WhatsApp. A former royal staffer has recently revealed details about the messaging habits and nicknames within the British royal family. Jack Stooks, who spent 21 years working for King Charles as a gardener at Highgrove, shared insights into the family’s use of these nicknames. Stooks noted that Prince William and Prince Harry always had the latest phones. They shared their numbers with only a limited number of staff for convenience, enabling quick communication about logistical matters.
Stooks explained that the royals couldn’t have their real names saved on phones due to privacy concerns. Instead, they used nicknames. Prince William was known as ‘Bobcat,’ while Prince Harry was called ‘Baz.’ When Catherine, the Princess of Wales, joined the family, she became ‘Mrs. Bobcat.’
On Fox News Digital, Stooks shared that staff with access to the royals’ numbers had to maintain discretion. The numbers were constantly changed for security, so Stooks no longer had them. The royal family, according to Stooks, are avid WhatsApp users. They have various groups, including one with the royal cousins, allowing them to stay in touch as a family.
“William was always polite,” Stooks mentioned. “He would check how busy I was before asking for help and always thank me, saying, ‘You’re a legend.’”
Royal experts have noted that nicknames have been a longstanding tradition. Some are affectionate, while others are for privacy. For instance, Prince William and Kate once used aliases ‘Danny Collins’ and ‘Daphne Clark’ during a security issue, reflecting their titles, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Historical figures like the late Queen Elizabeth II had simple nicknames like ‘Sharon,’ while she was affectionately called ‘Cabbage’ by Prince Philip. The term ‘Lilibet’ was known to be used by her grandfather King George V, mimicking a toddler Elizabeth’s attempt at pronouncing her own name.
Stooks also disclosed that King Charles and Queen Camilla use endearing names. In the past, Charles referred to Camilla as ‘Mehbooba,’ meaning ‘my beloved’ in Urdu.
The use of nicknames extends beyond the British monarchy. Princess Diana, once known as ‘Dutch,’ was lovingly given the name ‘Duchess’ by her family for her demeanor. Additionally, Diana nicknamed her brother Charles as ‘Carlos.’
The tradition of nicknames within the royal family underscores their attempt to maintain some semblance of normalcy and privacy amidst their high-profile lives.