Meghan Markle hits back in HRH title row and denies it breaks agreement with late Queen

Daily Record

29-04-2025

Representatives for Meghan Markle have addressed the controversy surrounding her use of the HRH title , which seems to go against what was agreed with the late Queen. Meghan and Prince Harry renounced their HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) statuses upon stepping back as front-line members of the Royal Family in March 2020. Yet, a recent podcast chat featured an image of a card from Meghan accompanying a gift that stated: "With the compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex". During her first-ever podcast discussion with Jamie Kern Lima, co-founder of IT Cosmetics, it was revealed that Meghan had sent Lima a basket filled with homemade strawberry sauce and ice cream "about a year ago... to see if that helps lighten my load", accompanied by the contentious card. Despite there being no formal legislation or signed agreements to forbid their usage, Harry and Meghan consented with the late monarch and senior palace aides that they would cease employing the term 'Royal' following their highly publicised departure, dubbed Megxit Day. The duo had even noted on their official website: "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. "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will no longer actively use their HRH titles as they will no longer be working members of the family as of Spring 2020." A spokesperson for the Sussexes has refuted claims that Meghan uses her title Her Royal Highness in a commercial context, reports the Mirror . Sources close to Harry and Meghan have hinted that the picture used on the podcast by Jamie Kern Lima might have been taken prior to the launch of As Ever. They argue that even though they retain their titles, they do not use the HRH publicly but do use the style privately among friends and in personal correspondence. Buckingham Palace has also been contacted for comment. Meghan also shared on the podcast her appreciation for the renewed 'honeymoon' vibes with Harry since they acquired "a little bit of breathing space" post-royal departure. She conveyed that early on in their romance, they struggled to genuinely cherish each other's presence owing to the immediate plunge into "the trenches" due to media scrutiny. The couple embarked on their romance in 2016, tying the knot in 2018 and starting their royal responsibilities before electing to step back in 2020, which led to tense ties between Harry and King Charles and Prince William. Recounting those times, she expressed: "You have to imagine at the beginning, everyone has, like, butterflies. "Then we immediately went into the trenches together. Yeah, 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 duchess lauded her husband for his enduring commitment to keeping the family safe. "He'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," Meghan expressed. "He's also a fox. If you haven't noticed, my husband's very, very handsome. But his heart is even more beautiful," she continued. Meghan became visibly moved during the conversation about her children, Archie and Lilibet, revealing that she has devised a unique way of keeping memories alive for them by sending emails to secret accounts intended for them to discover when they grow up. "Before I go to bed, almost every night, I email them, like, here's your report card from today, or, oh my gosh, wasn't it the funniest thing this morning?" "Or here's a picture of you two having breakfast, or here's you playing. The things that you're not going to frame, the things that you're not going to put pen to paper in a journal, but which they will end up seeing at one point in their life, maybe when they're 16 or when they're 18. "I'll say, here's an email that I've been keeping for you. Here's everything and every moment that I wanted to tell you how much I love you and, like, how proud I am of you." This follows Meghan's unveiling of her Netflix programme, fresh podcast and lifestyle label As Ever. The initial offering from As Ever, featuring raspberry spread, floral sprinkles and herbal tea, flew off the shelves, but her Netflix lifestyle show With Love, Meghan faced a wave of negative feedback. Additionally, the duchess kicked off a new podcast series, Confessions Of A Female Founder, in April.