King Charles and Queen Camilla have some well-known nicknames from their years together, but there’s one that was revealed that some royal fans may not know about.
The king and queen may be known to the world by their royal titles, but behind palace walls, the longtime couple has some much more personal names for one another. From their famously quirky “Fred” and “Gladys” nicknames to the more traditional “darling,” the King and Queen have revealed glimpses of the affectionate relationship they share away from their official duties. Now, a royal author is revealing another nickname they have for each other that some fams of the monarchy might not be aware of, and it’s certainly unique. Read more about their pet names below.
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King Charles And Queen Camilla Have Called Each Other 'Fred' And 'Gladys' For Decades
Long before they became the King and Queen of England, Charles and Camilla had playful nicknames for each other that have followed them throughout their decades-long relationship. The nicknames even became more well-known and notable after they were featured in the famous Netflix series, The Crown.
The couple reportedly began using "Fred" and "Gladys" when they were dating in their 20s, before Princess Diana came along, with Camilla referring to Charles as "Fred" and Charles calling her "Gladys." The odd names are reportedly inspired by characters from a BBC radio comedy show, The Goon Show, which Charles was a fan of. More scandalously, the king had gifted his current wife an engraved bracelet with "G and F" on it while he was involved with Princess Diana.
The influential pair has also been heard using the much more common pet name of "darling" for one another. In 2025, Charles was overheard referring to Camilla as "darling" during a tree-planting event, while the king also famously joked that he liked being called "darling" after a member of the public accidentally addressed him that way.
Royal Author Reveals King Charles Has Another 'Sweet' Nickname For Camilla
While "Fred," "Gladys," and "darling" may be among the couple's best-known terms of endearment for each other, royal biographer Gyles Brandreth came forward to reveal another, more unique romantic nickname the king has for his wife, which is "Mehbooba."
According to Brandreth, the word is from Urdu origins, and translates to "my beloved," making it a considerably more sentimental and affectionate pet name than their unusual "Fred" and "Gladys" choices. In the author's biography, Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait, Charles allegedly uses "Mehbooba" when referring to Camilla, a name media outlets and fans have called "sweet." The nickname reportedly stems from his interest in South Asian culture and languages, as he's visited that region throughout his life.
The king has even used the affectionate name publicly. During a 2022 British Asian Trust event, Charles referred to Camilla as his "mehbooba," offering a rare glimpse into one of the more intimate names they have for each other.
With "Mehbooba" joining "Fred," "Gladys," and "darling," Charles and Camilla appear to have plenty of options when it comes to addressing each other behind the scenes.
