A new royal biography has claimed that the late Prince Philip had a biting nickname for Meghan Markle — one that linked her to another infamous American divorcée who shook the monarchy.

The Duke of Edinburgh, who died in 2021 at the age of 99, is said to have privately referred to the Duchess of Sussex as “D.o.W.” — short for “Duchess of Windsor,” a reference to Wallis Simpson. Simpson was the American woman whose relationship with Edward VIII led to his abdication in 1936, a scandal that rocked the royal family for generations.

According to Ingrid Seward’s book My Mother and I, Philip thought the parallels between Meghan and Wallis were “uncanny.” Both were slim, dark-haired, glamorous Americans, and both were divorcées who ended up leaving royal duties behind — with their husbands in tow.

Seward explains: “He was simply referring to the fact that both were pencil-slim, dark-haired, and glamorous American divorcées.”

Echoes of History

Meghan was married to Hollywood producer Trevor Engelson before divorcing in 2014. Four years later, she wed Prince Harry in a royal wedding watched by millions around the globe. But by 2020, Harry and Meghan had stepped down as senior royals and relocated to California with their children, Archie and Lilibet.