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.

Royal expert Hugo Vickers previously noted that Harry himself bears similarities to Edward VIII, observing in 2022 that both men “radiated the same sadness after cutting their links with the royal family.” He added that both chose “the path of perceived happiness” by following their wives, even if it meant exile from the royal fold.

A Loaded Comparison

For Meghan, being likened to Wallis Simpson is particularly brutal given Simpson’s enduring reputation. After Edward abdicated, the couple settled in France, where Wallis became one of the most vilified figures in the royal family.

The Queen Mother is said to have harbored a lifelong vendetta against her, ensuring she was denied the style of “Her Royal Highness.” Historian Anna Sebba has explained that stripping Simpson of the title was a deliberate humiliation. “Nobody would curtsey to Wallis if they came back to England,” she said, calling the move both a snub and a form of exile.

Edward reportedly fought the decision, insisting he couldn’t bring his wife back to Britain if she were to be treated with such disrespect. But the restriction stood, cementing the couple’s outsider status.

Now, decades later, the comparison between Meghan and Wallis shows just how deeply royal history still shadows the present — and how even in death, Prince Philip’s sharp tongue continues to spark drama.