Ever since she and Prince Harry stepped back from their roles as senior members of the Royal Family, Meghan Markle has frequently been criticised for continuing to use her title in a public capacity. While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex still retain their royal titles, they are not permitted to use them in public for commercial gain.
The row was stoked again recently after details behind Meghan’s cover for US magazine Harper’s Bazaar were released. When the writer of the article, Kaitlyn Greenidge, met up with the Duchess to do the interview, she explained: “We’re in a grand brownstone on the Upper East Side that belongs to one of Meghan’s friends. When I enter, the house manager announces, ‘Meghan, Duchess of Sussex,’ even though we appear to be the only other two people in the house.”
As well as frequently being criticised by royal commentators and fans of the Firm on social media, another Duchess has spoken out about those who use their titles so publicly.
The Duchess of Northumberland has given a rare interview (Image: Collect)
In a rare interview with the Telegraph, the Duchess of Northumberland spoke out about her plans for the impressive Alnwick Castle estate and her hopes for the future when her son, George, eventually takes over from his father.
While showing the paper the huge new gardens and an enormous newly built fairytale playground, the Duchess shared her view on the approach that other Duchesses have taken.
While not naming any names, the Duchess – who is otherwise known as Jane Percy – said: “Unlike other Duchesses who put their names everywhere, I’m not using my title. I’d say it could be detrimental as one or two Duchesses haven’t really helped the cause lately.”
Her comments come after continued criticism for Meghan Markle and the King’s decision to strip Sarah Ferguson of her Duchess of York title.
Meghan’s frequent use of her title in public is often criticised by those online, whether she is using it to sign off a letter or to promote her work. Meghan previously prompted fury when she sent a gift basket to her friend Jamie Kern Lima with a monogrammed card which read: “With Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex”.
And after the details of the Harper’s Bazaar interview emerged, royal fans were quick to have their say. One wrote: “She really wants people to use that title to associate it with her and thinks the British Royal Family wouldn’t be able to take it from her then. She doesn’t get that it doesn’t belong to her, and they can take it if they want; it doesn’t matter if she styles herself with it or not.”
Another agreed, saying: “Meghan is deluded if she has her doorman calling out her title. Her royal title is worth nothing to her now, and she won’t have it much longer, so why be all desperate over using it?” Meanwhile, a final commenter pointed out: “Didn’t she say in the Oprah interview that titles meant nothing to her?”