Meghan Markle has stirred fresh controversy after appearing to go against a longstanding royal understanding, just as Prince Harry is said to be hopeful for mending family ties.
The Duchess of Sussex joined entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima for an in-depth 90-minute podcast interview, during which a past gesture from Meghan came under the spotlight. Jamie shared that she had received a thoughtful gift from Meghan about a year earlier—a basket filled with treats including ice cream and homemade strawberry sauce—accompanied by a card signed, “With Compliments of H.R.H. The Duchess of Sussex.”
The use of the “HRH” styling raised eyebrows, as it appeared to contradict the agreement made following Meghan and Harry’s departure from their roles as senior royals in 2020. Under the terms of the Sandringham Agreement, the late Queen Elizabeth II had instructed the couple not to use their “His/Her Royal Highness” titles, though they were never officially stripped of them.
Royal commentator Ingrid Seward commented on the matter, suggesting that the late monarch would have been “deeply offended,” given her sensitivity around royal protocol. Seward added that while Queen Elizabeth didn’t formally revoke the titles, she made it clear they should no longer be used. Now that she is no longer alive, Seward believes the couple may feel emboldened to bend the rules.
This latest development adds further tension to an already strained relationship between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family. Sources have indicated that Prince William, the heir to the throne, disapproves of how his brother and sister-in-law continue to associate themselves with royal titles. There is ongoing speculation that once William ascends the throne, he may move to officially revoke the titles altogether, signaling a deeper and more permanent divide within the royal household.
