Queen Elizabeth II had cheeky 'secret' nickname that Prince Philip called her
Queen Elizabeth II was known for her dignified and respectful attitude, but she also had a cheeky side and her husband, Prince Philip, had an '"adorable'" nickname for her
Today marks three years since Queen Elizabeth II passed away, and her presence remains deeply felt in our daily lives. Following decades of unwavering service to the nation, her legacy endures as one that will never diminish, with fresh revelations about the deeply revered sovereign continuing to surface.
The Queen died on September 8, 2022, yet tales keep emerging about her vibrant and remarkable existence. One particularly charming story concerns her late husband, Prince Philip, and the "adorable" pet name he used for her, as the anecdote recently surfaced on Reddit, leaving many users astonished by the amusing term of endearment used in private.
Most are familiar with Lilibet as Queen Elizabeth II's childhood moniker, which she adopted as a young child due to her difficulty pronouncing her complete name. Her great-granddaughter Princess Lilibet of Sussex bears this name as a tribute.
Yet, few may be aware that Prince Philip had his own special name for the Queen. Posting on Reddit's "Today I Learned (TIL)" forum, one user shared: "TIL that Prince Philip's 'affectionate' nickname for Queen Elizabeth was 'cabbage.'"
One respondent commented: "This is usually a French term of endearment, like honey, or sweetie. In French it is 'mon chou'."
Another contributed: "I was rewatching The Crown, series two, and Philip says that during his anniversary speech, and I was wondering all night what it meant and I didn't bother to Google, but now I know. Thank you!"
A third individual responded: "'Mon petit chou' (my little cabbage) is a common term of endearment in French. Both Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth [were] fluent in French."
Meanwhile, a fourth person added: "It's been a popular affectionate nickname in France for at least a century - mon petit chou!"
What does the name mean?
The late Duke of Edinburgh, it has been reported, had a series of playful names for the Queen in private, with "Cabbage" being claimed to be a regular favourite. It's also said he sometimes referred to her as "Sausage."
However, Robert Lacey, the Queen's biographer, once confirmed that "Cabbage" was indeed a term Prince Philip used for his wife. Despite the theories, the inspiration behind this charming nickname remains unclear.
In the 2006 film "The Queen", there is a scene where Philip gets into bed and says: "Move over, Cabbage." Peter Morgan, the screenwriter for the film, previously stated: "I inquired in royal circles and was told on very good authority that that is what the Duke sometimes calls the Queen."
The origin of the name is widely believed to stem from a term of endearment in France, where people often refer to their loved ones as "mon petit chou", which translates to "my little cabbage" or "my little pastry puff."
However, it's also possible that a different private joke or incident inspired the unusual name. Perhaps the true answer will forever remain a mystery.
Prince Philip, who passed away in 2021, was born on the Greek island of Corfu and married Queen Elizabeth II in 1947. The couple had four children: Charles, who is now the reigning monarch, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.