Why Meghan Markle’s Accidental HRH Title Still Rattles the Royals
News Desk
Islamabad: A diplomatic message meant to express gratitude has unexpectedly reignited royal tensions as Meghan Markle was recently addressed as “Her Royal Highness” by a Ukrainian official — a move that has drawn sharp criticism from within the British Royal family. However, experts say the controversy may be misdirected.
While the Duchess of Sussex, now formally going by Meghan Sussex, stepped down from royal duties with Prince Harry in 2020, agreeing not to use the HRH (Her Royal Highness) style, the couple retained their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles. A Palace statement at the time made it clear: “The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.”
This week’s reference to Meghan as “Her Royal Highness” in official Ukrainian correspondence sparked backlash in royal circles. A friend of King Charles, quoted by The Daily Mail, called the incident “outrageous,” accusing the Sussexes of once again pushing the boundaries of royal protocol. “Every time you think they can’t make it worse, they make it worse,” the source said.
But royal analysts and diplomatic observers are questioning whether the criticism is fair — and whether the message was even orchestrated by Meghan at all.
“This was a foreign government official using a title that may have been copied from outdated diplomatic protocol,” said Dr. James Holt, a former royal aide turned analyst. “There is no indication that Meghan requested or approved the use of ‘HRH’ in that message.”
Supporters of Meghan argue that pinning the blame on her for how others refer to her is not only unjustified but reflects ongoing hostility toward the Sussexes, particularly from palace insiders reluctant to let go of the couple’s break from tradition.
“It’s important to separate intentional breaches from honest mistakes or protocol lag,” said Rachel Berry, a U.S.-based royal commentator. “Critics are quick to weaponize anything associated with Meghan, even when the facts don’t support the outrage.”
The latest row also raises broader questions about how the titles and styles of former royals should be handled in international diplomacy — and whether governments are being adequately updated by the UK Foreign Office about such nuanced changes.
The Ukrainian minister’s message, while awkwardly timed, came amid international solidarity efforts in which Meghan and Harry have remained active. Last year, the couple spoke out in support of displaced women and children affected by the Russia-Ukraine war.
Some experts see this latest episode as another example of the Royal family’s lingering discomfort with the Sussexes’ global profile. “This feels less like a breach of protocol and more like a reminder of how divided the House of Windsor remains post-Megxit,” added Berry.
While Buckingham Palace has yet to make a formal comment, sources suggest the matter is “being taken seriously.” In the meantime, Meghan’s team has remained silent — perhaps signaling a desire to avoid further fueling the flames of royal drama.
