The relationship between King Charles and his daughter-in-law, Meghan Markle, has been a subject of intense public interest, evolving from a surprising beginning to its current, more distant state. According to royal reports, the King’s initial introduction to Meghan was anything but smooth. Royal biographers Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand claim in their book, Finding Freedom, that Charles and his staff at Clarence House were caught completely off guard. They reportedly learned that Prince Harry was dating Meghan a mere twenty minutes before the news was made public, a revelation that left them “crushed.”
The reason for this dismay was not personal disapproval, but rather a matter of royal timing and protocol. King Charles was on the verge of embarking on a sensitive and carefully planned tour of the Middle East. The announcement of Harry’s new romance, coupled with a statement condemning the press, threatened to overshadow the important diplomatic mission. The Clarence House team, which had invested months of work into the tour, feared their efforts would be lost in the media frenzy surrounding the new couple. Despite his disappointment over the timing, it was said that Charles ultimately understood why Harry and Meghan felt they needed to go public.
As Meghan became a more permanent fixture in Harry’s life, her relationship with the then-Prince of Wales reportedly evolved. Despite the rocky start, Charles is said to have developed a respect for his new daughter-in-law. In a revealing detail from 2018, Mail insider Charlotte Griffiths reported that Charles had bestowed a unique one-word nickname upon Meghan: “Tungsten.” This was not meant as an insult, but rather as a “term of endearment” that reflected his view of her character.
The nickname is deeply symbolic. Tungsten is a rare chemical element known for being incredibly strong and having the highest melting point of any metal. By calling Meghan “Tungsten,” Charles was reportedly acknowledging her inner strength and resilience. The insider suggested that the King admired this quality, believing that Meghan’s firmness provided a necessary backbone for Prince Harry, whom he saw as needing a strong, supportive partner in his life. This moniker offers a fascinating glimpse into a time when their relationship was viewed through a more positive and appreciative lens.
