Meghan Markle & Prince Harry are all take take take – they attack Royals but want all the perks, royal expert claims

Scottish Sun

03-05-2025

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MEGHAN Markle raised eyebrows as it was revealed she is still using her HRH title - despite promising the late Queen she wouldn't after leaving royal duties.
Although she used it around her friends instead of for "commercial purposes', a royal expert has criticised her for using the title for her advantage.
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It recently came out on the Jamie Kern Lima Show that Meghan Markle still uses her HRH title privately
Credit: Instagram
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A photo was shared on the show of a hamper sent to Jamie by Meghan using her official title
Credit: The Jamie Kern Lima Show
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Vanity Fair's Royal Correspondent Katie Nicholl claims Meghan using the title is hypocritical
Credit: The Sun
In a recent podcast interview with pal Jamie Kern Lima, a photo showed a gift basket of ice cream and strawberry sauce Meghan sent her a year ago.
With it came a note on monogrammed paper, signed: "With the compliments of HRH the Duchess of Sussex."
However, during the chat, Meghan opened up on a number of personal topics, including describing royal life as being 'in the trenches.'
Speaking on The Sun's Royal Exclusive show, Vanity Fair's Royal Correspondent Katie Nicholl said: 'I think it just poses just a bit of a hypocrisy element.
'A big issue over, well, you've attacked this institution many, many times, most recently in a podcast, which we've just heard this week.
'And yet you want to retain all of the perks and privileges of being in that institution, which is, of course, the titles.
'I suppose if they are just Harry and Meghan Sussex, because that is her name, she's right to say she's not a Markle anymore - when you marry most people take their husband's name and that's what she's done - but she doesn't need to be using the HRH title.'
Katie speculated about the reasons for Meghan to continue using her royal title in California, particularly given her recent As Ever brand launch and Netflix cooking series, With Love, Meghan.
The royal expert continued: 'She doesn't really need to be using the Duchess of Sussex.
'But of course, that sets her aside from, you know, everyone else, including top list, A-list Hollywood celebrities.'
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Public Relations Consultant Mark Borkoski agreed, saying: 'Of course it adds weight and she knows it adds weight.
'And it gives that sort of subliminal aura that she still has links with the British Royal Family, which is a very, very, very powerful brand globally, particularly in America.
'And the fact if you are disconnected from that, of course you lose your social capital, you lose your weight in terms of sort of some of these deals that she's trying to do.
'And I'm sure she is using that when it's important, when she has to land something, to remind the people the power that she possibly has.
'This is a power game.'
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex famously criticised the royal family in their Oprah Winfrey interview
Credit: Reuters
The PR expert added that this is particularly important in America as 'that status is so important'.
He explained: 'Without that status she just is another sort of B-lister in a continent absolutely populated with celebrities.'
On The Jamie Kern Lima Show this week, Meghan also gushed over her husband's efforts to keep their family - which includes Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three - safe.
She said: 'He's [Harry's] just out there, just constant, like he's just going to do whatever he can to make sure that our family is safe and protected and we're uplifted and still make time for date nights.
'He's also a fox. If you haven't noticed, my husband's very, very handsome.
'But his heart is even more beautiful.'
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PR expert Mark Borkoski claims the Sussexes are keen to use their titles as the royal family is a 'powerful brand globally'
Credit: Getty
Meghan claimed that the pair are now enjoying the 'honeymoon' stage of their relationship after being in the 'trenches' for years.
She shared: 'You have to imagine at the beginning, everyone has, like, butterflies.
'Then we immediately went into the trenches together.
'Right out of the gate, like six months into dating.
'So now, seven years later, when you have a little bit of breathing space, you can just enjoy each other in a new way, and that's why I feel like it's more of a honeymoon period for us now.'
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 and relocated to California.
In Prince Harry's recent security court case, which he has just lost, his lawyer said: 'On 8 January 2020, (the duke) and his wife felt forced to step back from the role of full time official working members of the royal family as they considered they were not being protected by the institution, but they wished to continue their duties in support of the late Queen as privately funded members of the royal family."
They have since had a fractious relationship with King Charles and Prince William.