Meghan Markle and Prince Harry still use their HRH titles — and not just privately, multiple sources told Page Six.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex agreed not to use their “royal highness” titles as part of their negotiations with Queen Elizabeth II to leave the UK and their roles as working royals, in 2020.
But, we are told, the entire Sussex family — including Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet — have HRH style, as it’s known, emblazoned on their stationery.
Insiders are critical of what they see as hypocrisy.
“Meghan hates the royal family and UK, yet flouts [the HRH] for her personal gain. It’s appalling. Everything about her is a contradiction,” one royal insider told Page Six.
And Harry and Megan — who, we’re told, insist on being called “Ma’am” and “Sir” by staffers — have also used their HRH titles when traveling, including on their faux royal tour of Columbia last August.
Markle “has embraced the [royal] platform and hierarchy, but it just doesn’t translate in the US. It’s weird to refer to your team as ‘private office’ and ask them to call you Sir and Ma’am,” the insider said. “Heaven forbid she just asks people to call her ‘Meghan.’”
The HRH row has led to a report in the Daily Beast that Prince William — Harry’s estranged older brother — plans to strip the couple of their HRH titles entirely when he becomes king, with a source saying he “loathes” Markle.
We have reached out to reps for William for comment.
A palace insider told Page Six that Harry, 40, believed that being asked not to use the HRH titles was “ridiculous” as he had been born with it, however, “They were asked not to use the titles for this very kind of issue.”
Markle, 43, brought the HRH issue back into the spotlight this week when it was revealed that she had sent her pal Jamie Kern Lima, the CEO of IT Cosmetics, a homemade gift basket with a note that said, “With Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex.”
The royal insider called Markle’s letterhead “disgraceful” and “shocking,” adding she has no right to [use the HRH style].
“It’s an abeyance and they’re not allowed to use, even in private capacity.”
However, the Sussexes’ rep has refuted claims that Markle uses the title for business purposes, and sources said the photo shared by Lima was taken before the recent launch of her lifestyle range, As Ever.
According to a statement from Buckingham Palace in January 2020, it was agreed that “The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the royal family.”
A Buckingham Palace spokesman told Page Six Wednesday they would not be commenting.
“She has no respect for any decision that anybody made — [including] the queen … it’s so bad,” said royal family friend and author Hugo Vickers of Markle.
Sources also told Page Six that Markle has a list of names that people meeting her can use, ranging from HRH, Princess Meghan, Duchess Meghan and the Duchess of Sussex.
“For someone who purports to have struggled so much and been so unhappy as a working member of the royal family and with life in the UK,” the royal insider said, “she sure goes out of her way to exploit her ‘royal-ness’ at every turn.”
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