A royal commentator has taken aim at Meghan Markle after the Duchess of Sussex was once again presented by her full title during a high-profile magazine interview.
Meghan and Prince Harry stepped back from official royal duties in 2020, stating that they had faced bullying within the institution. Even so, the couple retained their titles. The only real change was that Meghan would be styled as “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex” rather than “the Duchess of Sussex.” The pair also agreed that they would not use their titles for commercial purposes.
Last year, Meghan surprised some followers when she revealed that “Sussex” is her legal surname, a name given to her by Queen Elizabeth II on her wedding day in 2018. Archie and Lilibet share the same last name.
Earlier this week, Meghan reportedly made clear that she still prefers to be addressed formally in semi-official settings. The conversation emerged after she sat for a fashion interview with Harper’s Bazaar, chosen as the cover star for the magazine’s December 2025 and January 2026 issue.
Journalist Kaitlyn Greenidge wrote that when she entered the New York home where the interview took place, the house manager announced, “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex,” even though Meghan and the reporter appeared to be the only people present.
The detail quickly sparked commentary from royal critics, including US-based royal watcher Kinsey Schofield. On her YouTube channel, Schofield mocked the article’s tone and argued that Meghan’s team should have pushed to remove that moment from the story. She claimed it made both Meghan and the writer look foolish and insisted that the interview’s tone was overly deferential.
However, etiquette expert Myka Meier has defended the introduction. Speaking to US Weekly, Meier explained that it is neither improper nor unusual for someone with a British title to be addressed by that title in social or professional settings outside the UK. She noted that Meghan is widely known as the Duchess of Sussex, which makes the usage appropriate.
Meier added that each member of the royal family chooses how they wish to be addressed. In Meghan’s case, her formal title would be the standard way for her staff to introduce her. She described the matter as a personal preference rather than a breach of etiquette.
