Prince Philip Had a Bizarre One-Word Nickname For Queen Elizabeth — But It Was Surprisingly Sweet

The late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were married for 73 long years. Tying the knot in 1947, they remained devoted to each other until Philip’s passing in 2021. The couple reportedly had affectionate nicknames for one another. According to a royal biographer, Prince Philip lovingly called his wife ‘cabbage’.

Most love-struck couples have cute monikers for each other, and royals are no exception. As per multiple sources, Prince Philip also liked to call his wife 'sausage.' Royal biographer Robert Lacey confirmed the bizarre pet name in an interview with The Sunday Times. He said, “Yes, I've heard that is how he will sometimes refer to her.” The outlet revealed that 'cabbage' might have originated with the French phrase 'mon petit chou,' which translates to 'my little cabbage' but also 'my little pastry puff.' It is speculated that ‘Mon petit chou’ is also a French way of saying 'my darling.’

Queen Elizabeth was also famously nicknamed ‘Lilibet,’ a name Prince Philip exclusively used in her later life. Reportedly, the late Queen was unable to correctly pronounce her name as a toddler, so she was given the cute nickname by her grandfather. Her father, King George VI, once famously said of her and her younger sister, “Lilibet is my pride. Margaret is my joy.” As per Marie Claire, the Queen always signed off all her letters with the moniker. “Darling Granny. Thank you very much for the lovely doll's house. I do love it, and I have unpacked the dining room and the hall. Love from Lilibet xxx,” she wrote once in a letter to Queen Mary when she was a child. Fast forward to 2021, and her grandson Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle named their daughter Lilibet, in honor of the Queen.

A royal source told the Sun that nicknames within the royal family are a way of cutting through tension. They added, “The royals are not very good at communicating with one another, so this is one way around it. Nicknames are a way of taking the family tension out of things. They love to play games and they give each other silly presents. I think it’s because they have to be so earnest in their public lives.” The Queen was also called 'Gan-Gan' by Prince George, and 'Gary' by young Prince William, who couldn't say 'granny'.

Queen Elizabeth was deeply cherished by her family as a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She had a variety of affectionate nicknames over the years. Reportedly, much like Princess Diana even Meghan Markle called the Queen ‘Mama.’ Royal biographer Ingrid Seward told Grazia that per royal protocol, during the early stage of their relationship, she's expected to refer to the Queen as ‘Your Majesty.’ As they grow closer, she'll move on to ‘M'am’ and eventually — if she follows in Princess Diana's footsteps — she'll settle with ‘Mama,’ a nickname reserved for only the closest royals.