“Prince Philip was very canny about people,” Seward said. “He didn’t always see the bad in them, but he couldn’t get away from the similarities between Meghan and Harry, and Edward and Mrs. Simpson. That’s why he used to call her the Duchess of Windsor — not to her face, though. He used to call her DOW.”

Seward, who expands on these insights in her book My Mother and I, described Philip as “wary” of Meghan’s influence on the royal family. Though he recognized her charm and intelligence, he reportedly feared she might prove divisive — much like Wallis Simpson decades earlier.

By contrast, Queen Elizabeth II was said to have “high hopes” for Meghan, seeing her as a chance to modernize and connect with younger generations. The couple’s eventual decision to leave royal life, however, underscored how differently those hopes played out.

Life After Royal Duty

Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020 and relocating to California, Meghan and Harry have carved out new lives far from palace protocol. They now live in Montecito with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, and have pursued a mix of philanthropic, media, and business ventures.

Harry is expected to return to the UK alone this May for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, with a service planned at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Meghan will reportedly remain in the United States, citing safety concerns and a desire to avoid further controversy.

While the Sussexes’ relationship with the royal family remains complicated, Philip’s nickname serves as a reminder of the long shadow cast by the past — and the enduring comparisons between two American women who shook the House of Windsor.