Calling the Queen by her first name (Elizabeth) is a major breach of protocol, considered highly disrespectful by most, though she might give a confused look or be corrected by staff; it's a breach of etiquette similar to calling a head of state by their first name, but she'd likely remain gracious, whereas family members would use nicknames like "Lilibet" or "Mama," with only very close friends like Nelson Mandela permitted rare, informal use.
That includes politicians, heads of state, and even royalty from other countries. There was, historically, one exception to this rule. Nelson Mandela famously called the monarch 'Elizabeth' whenever they were together.
On presentation to The Queen, the correct formal address is 'Your Majesty' and subsequently 'Ma'am,' pronounced with a short 'a,' as in 'jam'.
In conversation, refer to 'His/Her Majesty' or 'The King/Queen', as appropriate. 'Your Majesty' should be substituted for 'you'. References to other members of the Royal Family are made to 'His (or Her) Royal Highness' or the appropriate title, such as The Princess Royal.
At one point, Diana called Queen Elizabeth “sobbing,” as we learned in the 2017 documentary Diana: In Her Own Words. It's because of this close-knit bond that Queen Elizabeth allowed Princess Diana to call her “Mama.”
Prince William
On a cheekier note, per The Mirror, Princess Kate had a more NSFW nickname for her now-husband when they were at university. The publication reports that, in addition to giving Wills the alias “Baldy”, she used to call him “Big Willy”.
I omitted obey from my vows.
Prince George and his siblings call Queen Camilla "Gaga," a sweet nickname derived from the term her own grandchildren use, opting for a unique, affectionate name rather than a formal "Grandma" or "Nanny," according to royal reports.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Officially Stripped of Last Military Title - YouTube.
Again, Camilla is currently "Queen Consort Camilla" (a Queen consort does not share the king's sovereignty or political and military powers), and styled herself that way at the beginning of Charles' reign before pivoting to "just" Queen Camilla. However, she doesn't get to retain the title.
All royals are expected to bow or curtsy to the sovereign and his wife, King Charles and Queen Camilla. Since he ascended to the throne, Prince William and Princess Kate have been seen formally greeting the monarch with a bow and curtsy on multiple occasions.
Addressing a British Queen in Person
But as we have seen, that title can be removed. The best example is in 1936, when King Edward VIII abdicated so as to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson, and he lost the title of king. He was thereafter no longer entitled to the title “His Royal Highness” and he got a new title: Duke of Windsor.
On presentation to The King or Queen, the correct formal address is 'Your Majesty' and subsequently 'Sir' or 'Ma'am,' pronounced with a short 'a,' as in 'jam'.
That royal shift apparently cemented a very special bond between Prince George and his great-grandmother, as he eventually gave her a sweet nickname that nobody else was allowed to use. "George is only 2-and-a-half and calls her 'gan-gan.
It's understood that Kate will be named Queen consort when Prince William takes to the throne, as his great-grandmother, The Queen Mother, did previously. This is in line with royal tradition, as is explained on the palace's official website.
Meghan Markle's name was removed from Archie Harrison's birth certificate in 2019, changing it from "Rachel Meghan The Duchess of Sussex" to just "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex," as a move to align with royal protocol, similar to Princess Diana's birth certificate, though it sparked rumors of a "snub" to Kate Middleton and was described by Meghan's spokesperson as a Palace directive, not her own choice, adding complexity to royal naming conventions.
The most famous royal to refuse to be king, or rather, to abdicate the throne, was Edward VIII of the United Kingdom in 1936, choosing to give up the crown so he could marry the American divorcée Wallis Simpson, a union considered unsuitable for a monarch at the time. While he didn't refuse to be king initially, his decision to abdicate put his younger brother, Albert (later King George VI), in the position he never expected to hold.
Prince Harry whispered to his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, that he hoped she was happy and with his grandfather, Prince Philip, and expressed his admiration for her dedication to duty until the end, as revealed in his memoir Spare. He said he hoped she'd be happy and with Grandfather now, acknowledging her service through the Jubilee and her final duties.
Prince William and Kate Middleton sleep in separate beds primarily due to the constraints of the Royal Train (which has only single beds) and as part of a long-standing aristocratic tradition of separate sleeping arrangements for better rest or privacy, though they likely share a bed at home, with their dog sometimes joining them for extra comfort, aligning with modern trends for "sleep divorce".
"She was Princess Diana's hated archnemesis; Diana called Camilla 'the Rottweiler,' and Camilla's nickname for Diana was 'Barbie. '" "The two women were fierce archrivals, and Camilla famously broke up the marriage of Charles and Diana," Andersen shared.
Princess Charlotte whispered to Prince George during Queen Elizabeth II's funeral procession, reminding him, "You need to bow," as the Queen's coffin passed, a moment captured on video that highlighted royal protocol and her guidance to her older brother.
In these moments, Diana would often keep her chin tucked and her head slightly down, making it harder for the photographers to get a clear shot. This subtle act helped her regain some control over her public image and shielded her from the overwhelming exposure that came with being part of the royal family.
So what I say to you now, as your Queen and as a grandmother, I say from my heart. First, I want to pay tribute to Diana myself. She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness.
According to The Associated Press, Diana referred to Prince Philip as "Dearest Pa" in letters from 1992, and the duke offers to help try to patch up her marital problems.