Latest news with #RoyalHighness
Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Meghan Markle walking 'very thin line' with 'pompous' move amid latest Prince Harry drama
Meghan Markle has stirred controversy after signing off a gift with the official title Her Royal Highness - despite an agreement with the Palace to not use it after stepping down from her role Meghan Markle has come under fresh scrutiny after it emerged she used her royal title in a manner some experts are calling "pompous" - despite having formally stepped back from royal life four years ago. The Duchess of Sussex, who alongside Prince Harry, agreed to relinquish the use of "Her Royal Highness" as part of their 2020 Megxit agreement with the Palace, appeared to blur the lines of that deal when she sent a gift to a fellow entrepreneur. The present, a luxury basket gifted to make-up mogul Jamie Kern Lima, came with a monogrammed card signed: 'With Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex.' The gesture might have gone unnoticed - had Jamie not shared the moment in footage promoting her new podcast episode featuring Meghan, released this week. While the duchess's representative insisted on Monday that the couple do not use their HRH titles, a source later clarified that while the styles are retained, they are not used publicly or for commercial purposes. But royal expert Jennie Bond believes the duchess is skating on thin ice. 'She's walking a very thin line here,' Jennie told the Mirror. 'Was the gift of her 'jam' to a make-up entrepreneur really just a 'private' gift or a commercial placement? I would suggest the jury is out as to whether her quite superfluous use of HRH was for commercial kudos. But I think the Palace will simply rise above it.' The HRH style has long been a contentious issue, particularly since Prince Andrew was stripped of using it amid scandal. Meghan and Harry, who gave a bombshell interview after sensationally losing his Court of Appeal challenge over his security arrangements in the UK, still technically hold the titles, but they have been expected not to use them, especially in business contexts. 'I don't think we'll see any formal action from the King or the Palace,' Bond added. 'It's really not worth the row and ill-feeling it would cause. But I do think it's rather crass and pompous of Meghan. I don't want to be part of the pile-on, but you really shouldn't try to bake your cake and eat it!' Jennie went on to question why the duchess continues to lean on the royal identity she once seemed eager to escape. 'She turned her back on royal life. She now says she and Harry were 'in the trenches' within six months of meeting, so it really does beg the question: why does she want to cling on to any vestige of a life she so clearly despised?' she said. 'I thought America was all about equality - so why try to be superior?' Despite the controversy, Jennie struck a more compassionate tone when reflecting on Meghan and Harry's life today, away from royal duties and nestled in the Californian hills. 'I'm glad that Meghan and Harry seem so happy now. She clearly feels they have found their feet and put their traumatic past behind them,' Bond said. 'These days it seems to be all about Meghan - and that's fair enough. She's a successful, independent woman earning her own way in life and with the man she loves at her side.' Still, she acknowledged the tension that may have existed during Meghan's short-lived time as a working royal. 'I've always believed that part of the problem was that Meghan never understood that she would not be CEO of the Firm she was joining - the Royal Family - and she wouldn't even be managing director. She would be part of the team. And that perhaps is not her greatest forte.'
NDTV
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Prince William To Strip Meghan Markle's Royal Title After He Becomes King: Report
Prince William is reportedly planning to strip Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of their HRH titles when he becomes king due to concerns that Meghan has breached an agreement with the late Queen Elizabeth II. The agreement, made in 2020, stipulated that the couple would not use their HRH titles as they stepped down as working members of the royal family. A royal insider told the Daily Beast, "Charles might be happy to put up with this, but William won't"- referring to Meghan Markle's use of her HRH title alongside her lifestyle products. "He loathes and despises Harry and Meghan with every bone in his body, he believes they have betrayed everything the family stands for and the idea that they are using their royal status as a calling card will enrage him," the insider added. Meghan Markle recently used the HRH title in personal correspondence, including a gift basket sent to podcaster Jamie Kern Lima with a card reading "With the Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex". The Sussexes' team claimed they don't use HRH titles, while sources close to the couple said Meghan used the title privately, not commercially. The couple agreed to stop using HRH titles publicly in 2020. Although no formal laws or signed documents prohibit their use, this incident contravenes the agreement with Buckingham Palace to cease public use of "Her Royal Highness" and "His Royal Highness" after their official withdrawal from royal duties on March 31, 2020, known as Megxit Day. They still technically hold the styles, but aren't using them publicly, similar to the Duke of York. The HRH title is largely ceremonial, carrying symbolic weight and prestige. It's typically reserved for children and grandchildren of the monarch, who often represent the monarch officially. The title doesn't grant special powers or responsibilities but signifies senior royal status. A friend of Prince William's believes that Meghan Markle is taking advantage of King Charles' leniency by continuing to use the HRH title. "Charles has completely lost control," the insider said in part, adding that it's "apparent" that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have "every intention of making his final years a misery." "Meghan using her HRH exposes how weak and enfeebled he is. She knows he won't do anything. There is no way King William will stand for this. The titles will simply be removed when he is king. A way will be found," the source told the outlet. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle relocated to Southern California after stepping down as senior royals in 2020. They've since built a life on their Montecito estate with their children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. Meghan has pursued various ventures, including her Netflix series 'With Love, Meghan,' which was renewed for a second season. She also launched her lifestyle brand, As Ever, featuring products like gourmet foods and teas.
Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Expert gives definitive answer on Meghan Markle's use of HRH title
Meghan Markle has 'blurred' the lines when it comes to using her HRH title, according to an expert, amid a furious row. Controversy has grown over Meghan's use of HRH after it emerged she sent a gift basket to make-up entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima last year, with a monogrammed card reading: 'With Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex'. Jamie showed an image of the present in footage of her podcast interview with Meghan which she released on Monday. As part of their Megxit negotiations with the Palace, Meghan and Harry agreed to stop using "Her Royal Highness" and "His Royal Highness" at the end of March 2020. They still retain the styles, with Harry having had his since birth, but they are essentially held in abeyance, as is the case for Prince Andrew, who also no longer uses his HRH style. The duchess's representative denied on Monday that the couple used them, but a source said on Tuesday that the Sussexes did not use HRH publicly but retained the style, and did not use it for commercial purposes. But according to constitutional expert Craig Prescott from Royal Holloway University of London, Meghan can use the title - but it is somewhat of a grey area. He explained to the Mirror: "Clearly when they stepped back from royal duties, one of the agreements was that they would not use these HRH titles but they still retained them. "That's because to strip them of their HRH titles is a little bit complex and maybe the Palace didn't want to do that and to sort of keep the door open. If we remember they were stepping back for a year and then there would be a review. "So they still have their HRH titles and the formulation was that they would not use this in an official capacity so that commercial activities don't have a royal seal of approval. "In that sense, this was a personal message and so she could and I don't think there is anything legally to prevent her from using this in a personal capacity. I think what is unusual about this is that it has come out in the open - and it's that blurring of the personal and the private. "But this is a friend, with whom she is doing a public appearances with so that's really where the controversy lies. You would have thought that discretion being the best part of valour, you would not use it in a way that could easily become public." In January 2020, the late Queen issued a statement after Harry and Meghan announced they wanted to step down as senior royals, saying that "together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family". Buckingham Palace outlined "the new arrangement" for the "next chapter" in Harry and Meghan's lives. It included the statement: "The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the royal family." No documents were signed or laws passed, but the decision was seen as a blanket ban, with no suggestion that Harry and Meghan were permitted to use the style privately. And it could have been the nature of how Harry and Meghan quit royal duties that meant there was no formal action in removing their HRH titles, as Mr Prescott explained: "To revoke a HRH you would have to pass a letters patent and the palace didn't want to do that because again i think there was always the possibility at the very least that they were coming back. Now that seems as unlikely as ever. "Your concern is maybe that now there is no indication they are going to come back, is there any indication they are going to push against that gentlemen's agreement so to speak and maybe start to use this HRH a little bit more? That will be the concern I think from the palace's point of view."
Daily Record
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Reason for Meghan Markle's controversial use of HRH title revealed by source
Meghan Markle faced a scandal this week after using the HRH title in a gift basket she sent to a friend some time ago. Meghan and Prince Harry previously agreed not to use the title when they stepped back from royal duties. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced in January of 2020 they would be stepping back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family. Shortly after their announcement, some of the family attended the so-called Sandringham Summit, which is said to have involved discussions about their future, reported The Mirror. Later, it was revealed the couple would retain their Her Royal Highness and His Royal Highness titles, which are abbreviated to HRH. However, it was agreed Prince Harry and Meghan would not "actively" use these royal titles. A statement on the couple's website said at the time the Duke and Duchess would "retain" their HRH titles. But Prince Harry and Meghan indeed stated they would no longer "actively" use them after the change in their roles. Their statement read: "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 statement from Buckingham Palace at the time read similarly: "The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family . [...] This new model will take effect in the Spring of 2020." But this week has seen controversy on the subject over the news Meghan used HRH on a note that was part of a hamper gifted to podcast host Jamie Kern Lima. The note read: "With the compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex." Her friend Jamie shared a photo of the hamper, including the note, on an episode of her podcast the Jamie Kern Lima Show that featured Meghan as a guest. She also spoke about the gift in the episode, which was released yesterday. Jamie said the hamper from Meghan included ice cream and homemade jam sauce. She said the hamper had been given to her some time ago during a challenging time to "see if that helps lighten [her] load". An insider revealed Prince Harry and Meghan retained their HRH titles but do not use them for commercial purposes and don't use the publicly. "While they do not publicly use 'HRH', this was a personal gift and their titles remain," they said. It's been reported it was sent to Jamie over a year ago. In a teaser for the podcast, in which Meghan discusses her new As Ever brand, Jamie states: "I have had your jam in my refrigerator all year." A source suggested to the Daily Mail recently that the photo shared by Jamie was taken before Meghan launched As Ever last month.
Daily Mirror
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Meghan Markle slammed for 'ultimate hypocrisy' as awkward video resurfaces
Meghan Markle has been criticised on social media after it was revealed she had used the Her Royal Highness title – despite an agreement stating she wouldn't Meghan Markle has come under fire on social media after it appeared she had breached the Sandringham Summit. In 2020, the Duchess of Sussex and her husband Prince Harry announced they were stepping down as senior working royals – a move which hadn't been seen since the abdication of King Edward VIII In 1936. The Sussexes announced that they had planned to live a financially independent lifestyle away from the Royal Family but had hoped to represent Harry's late gran, Queen Elizabeth, across the Commonwealth. But during a crisis summit with the late Queen, the then Prince Charles and Prince William – it emerged that this wouldn't happen. It was also during this 90 minute summit that the couple had managed to retain their His/Her Royal Highness title but were not allowed to use them. Now, the Duchess, 43, appears to have backtracked on this. The former actress, who now resides in Montecito with Harry, 40, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet has used her HRH style. In a new podcast, a picture is shown of a gift Meghan sent to a friend, with the words: "with compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex." The basket in which the gift was in, was filled with homemade strawberry sauce and ice cream, was sent to podcast host Jamie Kern Lima over a year ago. While no laws were officially passed during the Sandringham Summit, both Harry and Meghan publicly stated they wouldn't use their HRH titles. In a statement on their official website at the time, they wrote: "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." However, the Mirror understands that the Duchess does not use her HRH title for commercial purposes. Since the image emerged online, Meghan has been criticised. Sharing the image, one social media user said: " Meghan Markle proving yet again the distain she has for Queen Elizabeth, by signing a note with a HRH, something she was not supposed to do after leaving the royal family. Charles needs to stop letting this nonsense go and act." A second went on to type: "Imagine hating the royal family, dishing on senior royals and trashing the British monarchy at every opportunity... But then demand to be addressed with the titles given to you by the same royal family you hate and keep dining on." Elsewhere, a third shared a clip of Meghan from her Netflix series with Prince Harry, showing the Duchess giving a "medieval" curtsy. "Meghan Markle can claim she is nice and has nothing to prove but Meghan will never recover from this," they said. The update comes after Meghan said on the podcast she is enjoying a new 'honeymoon' feeling with her husband since the pair got "a little bit of breathing space" after stepping back from their royal duties. Meghan said the couple struggled to fully enjoy one another's company early in their relationship as they were quickly put into "the trenches" by the media spotlight. The couple started dating in 2016 and went on to marry two years later and carried out a string of royal duties before their departure from royal life. Speaking on the podcast, the Duchess said: "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 praised her husband for keeping the family 'safe'.
