The Duchess of Sussex has been accused of using her HRH title privately for years despite relinquishing royal duties.
Meghan sparked outrage this week when it was revealed she sent a gift basket of ice cream and jam to a friend with a personalised card reading “With Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex”.
The apparent breach emerged in a podcast with entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima, the founder of IT Cosmetics, which was uploaded to YouTube on Sunday.
It appeared to be a contravention of an agreement made with Buckingham Palace five years ago.
While no formal legal measures prevent their use, Meghan, 40, and her husband Prince Harry, 43, promised the late Queen they would drop the titles when they left the royal family, which became known as “Megxit”.
"The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family," a statement from Buckingham Palace stated at the time.
Other terms of the deal included the couple losing their patronages and Harry having to give up his military appointments, including captain general of the Royal Marines.
However, Meghan has reportedly referred to herself as HRH ever since they relocated to the United States — on private letters, gifts and invitations.
Sources told The Telegraph the pair are free to use the prefixes in private and simply agreed with senior aides not to exploit it for commercial purposes.
When they travel abroad, the California-based couple allegedly request that HRH be used in an attempt to “feel relevant”.
The Standard has approached the Sussexes for comment.
The Sussexes started dating in 2016 and married in 2018, initially taking on royal duties before deciding to step back from their roles in 2020.
It led to strained relations between Harry and his father King Charles, as well as his brother Prince William.
The status of HRH, an abbreviation for "His Royal Highness" or "Her Royal Highness”, is usually conferred on senior working royals.
The Duke of York’s was banned from using his HRH title when he was stripped of his military and charitable affiliations after his connections to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein came to light.
The honorific was also taken from Princess Diana, Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, and Edward VIII after his abdication.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have retained their titles, having had them from birth, despite not being working royals.
Conversely, Anne, Princess Royal turned down the late Queen’s offer of titles for her children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall.
