Meghan Markle is once again at the center of a royal controversy, this time over her apparent insistence on being formally addressed by her Duchess of Sussex title during private interviews — a move that several royal experts say signals how firmly she is holding on to the status she once claimed caused her deep personal strain.
According to Fox News, during a recent Harper’s Bazaar cover story, reporter Kaitlyn Greenidge was stunned when a staffer announced, “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex,” as she entered a Manhattan brownstone for their interview.
Greenidge noted that they were “the only other two people in the house,” making the announcement feel particularly conspicuous.
A similar introduction occurred earlier in Los Angeles, when a golf cart pulled up, and someone declared, “The Duchess of Sussex.”
“This is not protocol, let alone royal protocol,” British broadcaster Helena Chard told Fox News Digital. She said the behavior shows “Meghan attaches enormous importance to her royal status,” adding that she “will cling to her Duchess of Sussex title because it gives her a sense of importance.”
Chard argued that the title continues to serve Meghan’s business interests, especially in the United States. “It gets people talking and keeps her in the limelight,” she said, joking that comedy writers must be “having a field day” with material like this.
Royal expert Hilary Fordwich called the orchestrated introductions “very intentional.” She said, “The use of her royal title is beyond pretentious. It’s hypocritical at best.”
The interview included several other carefully crafted moments. Greenidge described meeting Meghan at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills, where the pair sat at a highly visible table.
Later, a waiter arrived with a cappuccino featuring Meghan’s face in the foam.
“Oh. I recognize this picture — that’s from our trip to South Africa,” Meghan reportedly said.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the incidents highlight how closely Meghan remains tied to her royal identity. While it is appropriate for her title to be used in certain formal or charitable settings, Fitzwilliams noted that in a private meeting, protocol dictates that the reporter, not the duchess, should have been announced.
The debate over Meghan’s title use resurfaced earlier this year when she sent entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima a gift basket signed, “HRH Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.”
Her team argued it was a private gift and therefore permissible, but critics said it crossed the line — especially because the basket included products from her business ventures.
Meghan became the Duchess of Sussex upon her marriage to Prince Harry in 2018. She and Harry stepped back from royal duties in 2020, later speaking openly about their struggles in interviews, documentaries, and Harry’s memoir, “Spare.”
Though they retain their titles, they agreed not to use their HRH styling and not to leverage “Sussex Royal” for commercial gain.
Still, royal watchers say Meghan is testing the boundaries. Kinsey Schofield, host of “Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered,” said Meghan is “walking a fine line by flaunting her title commercially,” especially as she promotes her lifestyle brand, As Ever. Schofield noted that Harry, too, is paid for events not because of expertise, but because of his royal name.
“These are the types of incidents the royal family hoped to avoid when rejecting the couple’s half-in, half-out proposal,” Schofield said. Any hint of “cash for access,” she warned, risks damaging the monarchy’s reputation.
Chard said she believes Meghan will continue embracing royal theatrics. “Meghan loves the pomp, sparkle, and drama,” she claimed. “Visibility is her thing — but it can also lead to the collapse of a person or brand.”
Experts predict this will not be the last time Meghan’s title use sparks headlines.
