In a recent interview, Jack Stooks, who worked as a gardener at Highgrove for 21 years, disclosed how Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, identified each other on the messaging platform WhatsApp. According to Stooks, the royal family relied on nicknames rather than real names to protect their privacy and to keep phone numbers from being easily linked to specific members.
Nicknames used on the messaging app
Stooks told GB News that the princes shared their phone numbers with a limited group of staff for logistical purposes. “We couldn’t have them saved under their real names, so they had nicknames instead,” he explained. He said William was known as “Bobcat,” Harry as “Baz,” and Catherine as “Mrs. Bobcat.” In a separate remark to Fox News Digital, Stooks recalled that he had labeled Harry as “Baz” because that was the name his friends used, and that William was sometimes called “Wombat.”
Security and privacy practices
The former gardener emphasized that the use of aliases was a security measure. “We had the family under different names, so that if anyone’s phone was taken, the number could be differentiated,” he said. Stooks added that the royals regularly change their numbers, and he no longer possesses any of them.
Family communication habits
Stooks described the royal family as “big WhatsApp users,” noting that they maintain multiple group chats, including one that includes cousins Zara Tindall, Peter Phillips, and the York sisters. He said Prince William was courteous in his requests, often checking Stooks’ availability before asking for assistance, and would reply, “You’re a legend,” when a task was accepted.
Historical nicknames and anecdotes
Royal experts quoted by Fox News Digital confirmed that the use of nicknames is a long‑standing tradition. Ian Pelham Turner, a royal broadcaster, mentioned that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sometimes use the aliases “Danny Collins” and “Daphne Clark” for security purposes. He also recalled that the late Queen Elizabeth was once referred to as “Sharon” for the simple initial “S,” and that Prince Philip called her “Cabbage.”
Other colorful anecdotes included Prince Charles reportedly calling Queen Camilla “Mehbooba,” an Urdu term meaning “my beloved,” during a 2022 speech, and Princess Diana’s family using the nickname “Dutch” for her.
Official response
Fox News Digital reached out to Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace for comment, but neither office provided a statement at the time of publication.
Context
The revelations offer a glimpse into how the British monarchy balances modern communication tools with longstanding concerns about security and privacy. While the nicknames themselves are light‑hearted, they reflect a broader effort to keep personal contact information confidential in an age of digital surveillance.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
