The Duke of Edinburgh’s pet name for the monarch is used in The Queen, a new film about the royal family set in the tumultuous days after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997.

In one scene Elizabeth, played by Helen Mirren, is seen in bed at Balmoral. As Philip, played by James Cromwell, removes his dressing gown he says: “Move over, cabbage.”

“I inquired in royal circles and was told on very good authority that that is what the duke sometimes calls the Queen,” said Peter Morgan, screenwriter for the film.

The nickname was confirmed by Robert Lacey, the monarch’s biographer, who said: “Yes, I’ve heard that is how he will sometimes refer to her.”

The name cabbage may stem from the French term of affection “mon petit chou”, which literally means “my little cabbage”, although it can also be translated as “my little pastry puff”.

The Queen’s first family nickname was Lilibet, short for Elizabeth. When her mother died in 2002, the Queen used the name on the card accompanying a bouquet on top of her coffin.

Other royal nicknames abound. Diana’s name for Camilla Parker Bowles was “the rottweiler”, while Prince Charles reportedly called Camilla “Gladys”, at least before they married.

Another scene in the film shows un-royal language at Balmoral. As she gets out of her Land Rover to look at a broken camshaft, the Queen is heard saying “bugger”.

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