Skip Nav

Why Is the Royal Family Called "The Firm?"

Here's Why Meghan Markle Referred to the Royal Family as "The Firm"

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 10:  (L-R) Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch the RAF flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as members of the Royal Family attend events to mark the centenary of the RAF on July 10, 2018 in London, England.  (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Image Source: Getty / Chris Jackson

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are getting ready to speak their truth. Ahead of their highly anticipated interview with Oprah Winfrey, we've got a few peeks of what's to come, and in the latest teaser, Meghan states that "there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us." So, who exactly is this "Firm," you ask?

While "The Firm" may be familiar to everyone, it's actually it's commonly used to reference the royal family and their business — and it's actually a name that the royals came up with for themselves. "The House of Windsor is a big business, though one with more ups and downs than the stock market," author Penny Junor wrote in the 2005 book The Firm: The Troubled Life of the House of Windsor. "Prince Philip calls it 'The Firm,' and all the royal executives and their powerful associates are supposed to make every effort to avoid even a hint of scandal that could diminish the reputation of the family business."

The term apparently dates all the way back to when Queen Elizabeth II's father, King George VI, ruled from 1936 to 1952. According to Penny, the king "first referred to the House of Windsor as The Firm and the name stuck." Colin Firth even used the phrase when he played King George VI in 2010's The King's Speech and said the British royals are "not a family, we're a firm."

The duke and duchess were part of The Firm themselves when they were working royals, but because of their royal exit, they are no longer active members. Meghan and Harry's first interview since their departure airs on ITV on 8 March.

Latest Celebrity