King Charles Shock: Meghan Markle's Secret 'Tungsten' Nickname Revealed In New Book

King Charles is said to have nicknamed Meghan Markle 'Tungsten' during her time as a working royal, according to a new biography by royal journalist Russell Myers.​

The claim, reported in extracts from William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, adds to a steady flow of accounts about internal royal relationships in the years leading up to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepping back from official duties and moving abroad in 2020.​

Myers writes that Charles, now 77, used the nickname in reference to tungsten, a metal 'known for being tough and unbending under extreme pressure.' The book links the description to what it characterises as Meghan's 'strong wit and fortitude' during her short period as a senior member of the royal family.​

The biography, billed by publisher Penguin as the first joint biography of the Prince and Princess of Wales in more than a decade, is listed for publication on 24 February 2026 under the Ebury Spotlight imprint.

'Tungsten' Claim And Early Impressions

In the book, Myers says Charles was initially taken with Meghan after she married his youngest son, Prince Harry, in 2018. 'He [Charles] was very fond of her and in the early days found her charming to be around,' Myers writes, adding: 'Meghan was engaging, polite and was clearly in love with his son, so there were certainly no apparent issues he felt the need to address.'​

The author's account suggests that the King's early view of Meghan sat alongside a wider family effort to help her adjust to the conventions of royal life. Myers claims Meghan experienced difficulties adapting before the couple left for Montecito, California, and that other royals attempted to assist her as she settled into her role.​

Myers writes that Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh—Prince Edward's wife—made repeated approaches to ease Meghan 'into the royal fold,' but adds that 'their repeated attempts were not responded to.'​

Book Alleges Strains Around Sussex Exit

Beyond the nickname, the book sets out Myers' version of how relations between the Sussexes and the Waleses deteriorated after Harry and Meghan's wedding, with the author saying 'things were undeniably different.' He writes that Prince William and Catherine 'felt the Sussexes had an agenda,' and adds that they believed the couple's 'behaviour stemmed from something more than being difficult.'​

On the discussions before the Sussexes' departure from royal duties, Myers claims Catherine was less engaged than William in efforts to persuade Harry to remain in his position. 'Catherine had less interest than her husband [Prince William] in trying to persuade Harry to stay in his current role,' Myers writes.​

The biography also describes what it calls a 'toxic' relationship between Meghan and Catherine, reporting Myers' assertion that Meghan 'was being bullish' and that Catherine found her 'abrasive.' Myers writes that the Princess of Wales 'saw the inevitability of the parting of ways, although perhaps not to the extent of what eventually happened.'​

He attributes the growing split, in part, to the long-standing 'heir and the spare' dynamic, writing that Catherine believed the brothers' 'fundamental differences' made it more likely that Harry would want a larger role than 'being a bit-part player.'​

The book also touches on the rupture between the brothers, stating that William was 'intensely saddened' by Harry's decision to leave and that the pair had been 'drifting apart for years.' 'He and Harry had been drifting apart for years, but now he knew deep down that there would be no turning back,' Myers writes.