It's because of this close-knit bond that Queen Elizabeth allowed Princess Diana to call her “Mama.” The moniker might surprise some royal aficionados, since members of the family aren't supposed to use informal nicknames around the queen.
In fact, though Diana had critical words for the royal institution—"I do think that there are a few things that could change," she told Bashir—she always spoke respectfully of the queen. "I admire her," Diana said. "I long to get inside her mind and talk to her, and I will.
April 1, 1992. Diana curtsies to Queen Elizabeth during the funeral of her father, John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer.
What Kate called the Queen. While the rest of the world was required to address Queen Elizabeth as Ma'am or your majesty, those closest to her are allowed to refer to her as Mama, according to Ingrid Seward, the editor of Majesty magazine.
Gary, or Gan-Gan
According to royal correspondent Richard Kay, Prince William was encouraged to call her Granny as a child, but he couldn't quite get the hang of it. What he could manage, was Gary. Kay said: "On another occasion, the Queen was on hand after William fell over at Buckingham Palace, bawling: 'Gary, Gary'.
It was revealed that the Queen Consort is known as “Gaga” - a nickname that she's reportedly also called by Prince George, Charlotte and Louis. However, King Charles' unusual royal nickname from his step grandkids is markedly different from Kate Middleton's adorable nickname for him.
Camilla, who has five grandchildren of her own and is step-gran to the Cambridge kids and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Archie and Lili, is referred to as 'Gaga'. According to the Sun, Camilla told Lady Gaga that her step-children called her 'GaGa' when they met during the 2016 Royal Variety Performance.
Prince William defied royal protocol at the King's Coronation when he chose not to bow to Queen Camilla at the Coronation Concert. A body language expert claims that the Prince of Wales might have found it strange to perform such a gesture to his stepmother.
Of course, Wills has his fair share of nicknames for Kate too—he apparently calls her 'DoD', which is short for "Duchess of Dolittle". It's not exactly the pet names you'd expect from the future King and Queen of England, but it's perfectly fitting for this royally modern romance.
According to protocol, Meghan is supposed to curtsy to those who outrank her.
The queen stood with her family, and as Diana's funeral cortege passed by, she bowed her head. It was not a quick bow, nor a shallow one. The woman accustomed to being bowed by the world now lowered her head and humbly honored the princess.
The Queen bowed her head as a sign of respect to her late daughter-in-law, Princess Diana. As the Head of State, Her Majesty was under no obligation to bow to anyone, making the gesture even more poignant.
Princess Diana's curtsies are often noted today on social media for their depth. The princess grew up in a very old aristocratic British family, of whom many generations had served the monarchy in court positions, the depth of her curtsy is the product of her generation and class.
“For her part, Diana was upset by the disproportionate interest in her, especially when she realized that it was disturbing Charles. She collapsed under the strain, weeping to her lady-in-waiting and secretly succumbing to bulimia.” The Princess of Wales at the Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia, 28th March 1983.
"According to sources, when Diana passed away in 1997, Margaret didn't even bow her head in respect. "Apparently she gave a lazy salute to the casket that has been compared to shooing away a fly." According to TheTalko, Margaret felt as though "Diana had turned her back on the Royal Family".
While Princess Diana and Prince Philip were not reported to have gotten along well (during her marriage to Philip, there were reports that he was "unkind" to her, according to CNN), behind closed doors, it appears he was there for Diana during the difficult divorce — to a degree at least.
King Charles still calls Harry 'darling boy' - why he WON'T punish him at coronation. Prince Harry won't be relegated to the 'cheap seats' at the Coronation, a royal expert has revealed.
Kate will instead be a queen consort, the wife of a reigning king (William, of course). In the role, she will support her husband in his duties, attend engagements, and help with charitable organizations that resonate with her.
To become a Princess, one has to be born into the Royal Family such as Prince William and Kate's daughter, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. Kate became 'Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge' when she married the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II.
This deliberate gesture was believed to be a response to Camilla's recent behavior. An insider revealed: "That obvious insult raised eyebrows big-time. Apparently, Kate was seething over commands Camilla made about coronation guests and decided to make her angry feelings very obvious."
That anger went right through that small part of the congregation by the throne, at the center of Westminster Abbey.” “And in that moment it was absolutely noticeable to those people who had been excluded that nobody — let alone Kate — curtsied to Queen Camilla,” added Bower.
So, what's the deal? According to the royal rule book, female members of The Firm must curtsy to the most senior members of the monarchy – currently King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla – whilst their male counterparts must bow their heads.
Princess Diana
Though the royal died decades before the birth of her grandchildren, both princes keep their late mother's memory alive in their respective homes, with George, Charlotte, Louis, Archie and Lilibet being taught about “Granny Diana.”
The Prince of Wales called his father “Pa”. Was he reverting to code for security reasons? In our 21st-century utopia, who speaks the word “Pa”?
“[Charles and Camilla] also have other nicknames for each other, including 'darling' and 'mehbooba,'” Rae said.