Meghan Markle 'clearly going against Queen's wishes' in yet another agreement breach
The Duchess of Sussex sent products from her new lifestyle brand to social media influencers with personalised notes using a royal monogram, in what palace insiders say goes against the late Queen's wishes. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry agreed not to use their HRH titles or trade on their royal connections for commercial purposes, when striking the deal to allow them to quit their roles as working royals in the Spring of 2020.
The decision for the Duke and Duchess to stop using their HRH titles came during the "Sandringham Summit", a pivotal meeting held on January 13, 2020, at the royals' Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England. It saw senior members of the British royal family - including the late Queen Elizabeth II, the then Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry - gather to address the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision to "step back" from their roles as senior royals.
Meghan participated remotely from Canada, where she was living with their son, Archie after fleeing the UK. The late Queen insisted to her grandson Harry that there was no way for the couple to have a "half in, half out" model of working for the institution.
It was agreed that they would be able to step back from royal duties to forge their own path, while Harry was stripped of his military and charity patronages connected to the royal family. The latest controversy to hit Meghan, 43, comes less than 24 hours after it emerged she used her 'HRH' title on a gift card sent to a personal friend.
On their own former Sussex Royal website, Meghan and Harry stated: "As agreed and set out in January, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will retain their 'HRH' prefix, thereby formally remaining known as His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex.' They added that they 'will no longer actively use their HRH titles as they will no longer be working members of the family as of Spring 2020".
But the Duchess, 43, sent a gift hamper to podcast host Jamie Kern Lima and a card which read: "with the compliments of HRH, Duchess of Sussex". Now it can be revealed that Meghan sent gift packages to high profile influencers with handwritten gift cards, embossed with her personal royal cypher - the letter M and a crown - as part of her 'As Ever' lifestyle brand.
Prominent influencer and US based royal author Elizabeth Holmes showed in a video to her 200,000 Instagram followers seven products sent by Meghan. Inside a wooden box, sealed with an ornate white ribbon, included Meghan's raspberry jam, cookie mix, crepe mix, tea and signature flower sprinkles.
Royal insiders suggest "the use of their royal connections for commercial enterprises" is a "clear contravention of the agreements made during the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's departure as working royals".
One source said: "The Duchess of Sussex is clearly trading on her royal connections to promote her new brand, which goes against everything she and Prince Harry agreed to. The agreements made at the Sandringham Summit were in place to stop this type of commercial activity being exploited."
The Duchess of Sussex's representatives hit back suggesting that Meghan and Harry do not use the HRH publicly even though their titles remain. Sources also suggested that the image shared on the podcast by Jamie Kern Lima had been taken before As Ever was launched. However, as the picture shared by Jamie hints, they do use the style with friends and in personal correspondence.
Meghan launched her 'As Ever' lifestyle brand last month alongside a series on Netflix titled 'With Love, Meghan', documenting her tips for cooking and flower arranging from a rented house near her home in Montecito, California, that she shares with Prince Harry and their two young children. Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.
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