Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s ‘secret nicknames’ among staff – and what inspired them
Since they departed from the world of the royals, the couple have since been downgraded in their security status too - Meghan has spoken up about the death threats she has received and for the safety of her children
During their time within the royal family’s close circle, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were assigned secret nicknames by security.
Since they departed from the world of the royals, the couple have been downgraded in their security status, meaning they don’t have protection paid for when they return to the UK, something Prince Harry is fighting through the courts. On their exit from the Firm, their tax-payer-funded protection was retracted. Security for the Royal Family is no easy task with guards having high levels of mental agility, athleticism and the ability to spot a threat. Security for the royal family is paramount and using code names allows for subtlety when discussing royal members.
Following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Prince William and his wife Kate became known as the Prince and Princess of Wales. Back in their time as working royals the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge the couple were referred to by security as ‘Daphne Clark’ and ‘Danny Collins’ – with the initial DC of course standing for Duke of Cambridge or Duchess of Cambridge.
According to British Heritage Travel, Meghan and Harry were given a nickname, with Meghan being known as ‘Davina Scott’, while Harry was ‘David Stevens’. The names were frequently used by royal security personal when referring to the couple – with the ‘DS’ initial here standing for Duke of Sussex or Duchess of Sussex.
Meanwhile, it’s probable that, with their elevated titles, Kate and William – who are the future King and Queen – will also likely have new covert nicknames, perhaps centring around their new PW initials. Harry and Meghan have spoken about their shock about their security being removed with Prince Harry saying it’s something he “never” believed would happen. In their tell-all Netflix series Harry and Meghan, Meghan shed tears recalling death threats she’d received and sharing fears she had for her children’s safety.
In 2020, Harry first took legal action against the Home Office over the decision to downgrade his security. The High Court dismissed his case after ruling that the decision was lawful, however, the Court of Appeal has now stated that it will hear Harry’s challenge following a direct application from the Prince’s lawyers. In a written statement read out at a previous hearing of the case, Harry spoke of how he still regarded the UK as his ‘home’ as well as ‘central’ to the heritage of his two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
He wrote: “The UK is a place I want them to feel at home, as much as where they live at the moment in the United States. That cannot happen if it’s not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil. I cannot put my wife in danger like that and, given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm’s way too.”
