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Since his official retirement from public life in 2017, we don’t get to see much of Prince Philip these days. The Duke of Edinburgh recently turned 99, and though he is quite wise in age and has had a couple of health issues in the past few years, he’s still as sharp as ever.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the prince and Queen Elizabeth have been in isolation with their staff at their country home, Sandrigum Estate, where they have been video calling with their family and friends.

The prince has been a steady force in the royal family since he married the queen in 1947. Along with the way he’s earned quite the reputation and a very badass nickname.

Prince Philip is one of the most interesting members of the British royal family

Prince Philip was born in Corfu, Greece to Princess Alice of Battenberg and Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark. However, when he was just one-year-old, his family was forced to flee Greece after his uncle the king was overthrown.

The prince’s father soon abandoned the family and his mother was committed to a mental health facility. In turn, he was raised by his uncles Georgie and Dickie Mountbatten. Being orphaned at such a young age gave the prince a steel-like backbone. He’s been known to speak his mind no matter where he is and without concern for upsetting others.

“Prince Philip is bluff, outspoken, hearty, tough and something of a bully,” royal expert,  Penny Junor explained in Tim Clayton’s book, Diana: Story of a Princes. Though the prince struggled with his relationship with his son, Prince Charles, he’s always been very close to his grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

Prince Philip has a hilarious nickname for Queen Elizabeth

Since he’s so outspoken, Prince Philip had no qualms about giving the queen a rather personal and hilarious nickname. While many close to Queen Elizabeth call her, Lisbeth, Prince Philip calls his wife of 70 plus years, “Cabbage.”

It sounds pretty awful, but it has a very sweet meaning. The term was derived from the French phrase “mon petit chou” which means “my darling.” The translation from French to English is “my little cabbage.” Therefore, the prince delights in calling his wife, cabbage.

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Inside Prince Philip’s badass nickname

Still, Queen Elizabeth isn’t the only royal with a nickname. In fact, Prince Philip has a legendary one of his own. In his book, Behind the Throne: A Domestic History of the British Royal Household, historian Adrian Tinniswood got some major insight into the duke’s super cool nickname.

Tinniswood says that the Duke of Edinburgh’s friends and royal staff call him “P.P.” which is a modification of “Prince Philip.” Apparently the prince, despite all of his gruffness is the staff’s favorite.

“If you’ve talked to any of the staff, Philip’s the one they all love really,” The Crown actor Matt Smith told Variety. “I think more than a lot of them, he’s a bit more of a man of the people. The royal protocol hasn’t dogged him in quite the same way his whole life and there’s a sort of rebellion in him and a naughtiness and a cheekiness. I think he’s quite affable and open by all accounts with the staff. They all love him.”

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