Prince William Upset Over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Continued Use of Sussex Title
A fresh controversy has erupted over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ongoing use of their Sussex title. The issue came to light in May when Markle, 43, was spotted using her Her Royal Highness (HRH) title in a private note accompanying a gift basket shared in a video by her friend, Jamie Kern Lima, the founder of IT Cosmetics.
This incident, along with Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko referring to Markle as HRH in an Instagram post, has reignited discussions about why Meghan and Prince Harry, 40, are still holding on to the HRH styles they had agreed not to use publicly when they stepped back from their royal duties in January 2020.
As per the agreement they reached with Queen Elizabeth II at the time, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were permitted to retain their HRH titles but were barred from using them for commercial purposes.
A statement released by the palace in 2020 explicitly stated: “The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.”
The gift card sent by Markle, however, was in a private capacity and not part of any commercial venture, leading constitutional experts to conclude that it did not violate the agreement.
Despite this, sources close to Prince William, 42, reveal that the Prince of Wales is displeased with what he views as a breach of royal protocol.
“William perceives this as yet another disappointment,” shared an insider, further stating: “While it may not have amounted to a formal breach, he is disheartened by the couple’s continued exploitation of a title bestowed upon them by a family they chose to distance themselves from. He is also dismayed by their tendency to exhibit royal behaviors in America.”