They added: “The team at Clarence House, which had spent months putting together Prince Charles’ tour in the hopes that it would be covered significantly, was crushed.”

Even so, they wrote that Charles, despite being “disappointed” by the timing, still “understood” why Harry and Meghan felt it was necessary to go public.

Over time, Charles and Meghan’s relationship improved significantly. Meghan went from Harry’s partner to becoming Charles’s daughter-in-law — and he even walked her down the aisle when her own father was prevented from attending.

The Surprising Nickname: “Tungsten”

According to Palace insider Charlotte Griffiths in the Mail, Charles had a rather unexpected nickname for Meghan: “Tungsten,” referring to the chemical element known for having the highest melting point.

Griffiths wrote in 2018 that it was meant affectionately.

“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,” she explained.