While the relationship between some members of the Firm and the Sussexes have been strained in recent years, it is believed that this was not always the case. During her time as a working royal, and even during the early days of her relationship with Prince Harry, it is believed Meghan Markle, 43, was popular among members of her husband’s family.
This included Harry’s father King Charles, who was reportedly very fond of Meghan when she first started dating his youngest son. This fondness was shown by a flattering nickname the monarch reportedly had for her, which was believed to be a sweet nod to her resilience. It is believed that he called her “Tungsten” – a chemical element that has the highest melting point.
This was revealed by palace insider Charlotte Griffiths, of the Mail On Sunday, who said the name was a “term of endearment”.
She wrote in 2018: “Prince Charles (now King 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.”
It is also believed that the King saw Meghan as being very resilient.
While it is not known where their relationship now stands, especially as Harry claimed the monarch “won’t speak” to him just months ago, it is believed Meghan and her father-in-law did share a close bond.
This was shown on her wedding day in 2018, when Charles – who was Prince of Wales at the time – agreed to walk Meghan down the aisle when her own father was not present.
Talking about this in the 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry and Meghan, the duchess said: “Harry’s dad is very charming. And I said to him, like, ‘I’ve lost my dad in this.’ So him, as my father-in-law, was really important to me.
“So I asked him to walk me down the aisle and he said yes. The whole thing was surreal.”
The pair’s close relationship could also once be seen at royal events in which they would often be seen exchanging a laugh and a smile. However, with Meghan and Harry, 40, now based in Montecito, California, it is not known when the duchess last spoke to her royal father-in-law.