Meghan Markle has once again divided royal watchers after unveiling a new fashion statement that some see as a bold nod to her royal past.
A Controversial Royal-Inspired Accessory
The 44-year-old Duchess of Sussex shared a video montage on Instagram on Thursday, capturing her trip to Washington D.C. for Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit, where she spoke about her business ventures. Set to Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5, the upbeat clip followed Meghan through her hotel arrival, behind-the-scenes moments, and her flight home.
However, what drew the most attention wasn’t the event itself but her accessory—a Longchamp “My Pliage L Travel Bag” worth around $860 AUD, monogrammed with the initials “DS,” standing for Duchess of Sussex. The tote appeared multiple times throughout the video, including one shot where Meghan playfully stuck out her tongue at the camera while the bag rested beside her.
Royal fans were quick to weigh in online. “Please don’t tell me she had a bag made with the initials DS for Duchess of Sussex? Didn’t she say she was recovering from her time in ‘the institution’?” one X user commented. Another added, “Even the real royals don’t do that—this is crass, not classy.” Others accused Meghan of hypocrisy, saying she “can’t let go of the title” despite leaving royal life behind.
Still, some fans defended her choice. “Let her have the monogrammed bag! It’s her title, after all,” one wrote. Another reasoned, “People call her the Duchess of Sussex—why can’t she?”
Holding On to the Sussex Title
Although Meghan and Prince Harry stepped back from royal duties in 2020, she continues to use her HRH title in subtle ways. In April, she was spotted using the HRH styling on a gift card—despite Queen Elizabeth II’s prior instruction that the couple should not use those titles as non-working royals.
On her Netflix cooking series With Love, Meghan, the duchess even corrected actress Mindy Kaling for calling her “Meghan Markle.” “It’s so funny you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know I’m Sussex now,” she told Kaling, explaining that sharing her name with her children “means so much” to her family identity.
Criticism Over Her “Luxury” Image
The tote bag incident came just days after Meghan faced online backlash for sharing a glossy video of her designer wardrobe and shoe collection, posted hours after she and Harry were named Humanitarians of the Year at a New York mental health gala.
Critics called the video “tone-deaf,” with one writing, “Such compassionate humanitarians—staying in luxury hotels, flying private, showing off shoes we can’t afford. Maybe donate instead.”
Despite the criticism, her supporters rallied behind her. “Meghan is an amazing person and allowed to share whatever videos she wants to,” one fan commented.
Whether it’s her fashion choices or her continued use of royal titles, Meghan Markle continues to spark fascination and debate. Her monogrammed DS tote may have been a simple accessory—but for many, it reignited the ongoing conversation about how far the Duchess has, or hasn’t, stepped away from royal life.
