Since Meghan Markle and Prince Harry relinquished their positions as working royals, the Duchess has faced ongoing scrutiny for publicly using her Royal title. Although the couple retains their Sussex titles, Royal protocol prohibits them from leveraging these designations for commercial purposes.
The controversy resurfaced following the publication of Meghan’s Harper’s Bazaar cover story. Journalist Kaitlyn Greenidge, who conducted the interview, recalled: “We’re in a grand brownstone on the Upper East Side that belongs to one of Meghan’s friends. When I enter, the house manager announces, ‘Meghan, Duchess of Sussex,’ even though we appear to be the only other two people in the house.”
Beyond criticism from Royal experts and supporters of the monarchy across social platforms, another member of the aristocracy has weighed in on the public use of noble titles. During an uncommon sit-down with the Telegraph, the Duchess of Northumberland discussed her vision for the historic Alnwick Castle property and her aspirations for when her son, George, succeeds his father.
While touring the publication through expansive new garden installations and a massive fairy-tale themed play area, the Duchess offered her perspective on how other titled women have conducted themselves. Without mentioning specific individuals, the Duchess – also known as Jane Percy – remarked:
“Unlike other Duchesses who put their names everywhere, I’m not using my title. I’d say it could be detrimental as one or two Duchesses haven’t really helped the cause lately.”, reports the Express.
Her remarks follow ongoing scrutiny of Meghan Markle and the King’s choice to remove Sarah Ferguson’s Duchess of York title. Meghan’s consistent deployment of her title in public settings frequently draws criticism from online commentators, whether she employs it to conclude correspondence or advance her professional endeavors.
Meghan previously sparked outrage when she delivered a gift basket to her friend Jamie Kern Lima featuring a monogrammed card stating: “With Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex”.
Following publication of the Harper’s Bazaar interview details, Royal observers were swift to weigh in. One commented: “She really wants people to use that title to associate it with her and thinks the British Royal Family wouldn’t be able to take it from her then. She doesn’t get that it doesn’t belong to her, and they can take it if they want; it doesn’t matter if she styles herself with it or not.”
Another concurred, noting: “Meghan is deluded if she has her doorman calling out her title. Her royal title is worth nothing to her now, and she won’t have it much longer, so why be all desperate over using it?” A third observer questioned: “Didn’t she say in the Oprah interview that titles meant nothing to her?”