Meghan Markle is back in the headlines—this time for quietly using the royal title “HRH” in a way that has reignited a fierce debate about her agreement with the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The Duchess of Sussex reportedly included the title on a personal card sent alongside a gift, sparking widespread speculation over whether she violated the terms of her royal departure.
The controversy began after US entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima received a handwritten note from Meghan attached to a gift basket. The card was signed, “With the Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex.”
While seemingly innocent, the inclusion of “HRH”—Her Royal Highness—raised eyebrows across royal circles. The Sussexes had agreed not to use the title after stepping down as working royals in 2020.
According to a report by the BBC, however, Meghan did not breach the formal agreement with Buckingham Palace. Sources close to her and Prince Harry say the card was sent privately and not used for public or commercial gain.
But that hasn’t stopped the royal drama from boiling over. Critics argue that even using the title informally could mislead the public or subtly imply royal endorsement, something the late Queen had explicitly aimed to prevent.
The 2020 royal exit agreement made it clear: Harry and Meghan would keep their HRH titles but would refrain from using them in any official capacity. The Queen’s statement emphasized that they were stepping back from royal duties entirely.
Since then, both Meghan and Harry have been careful in navigating the thin line between private life and their public legacy as royals. But this latest move has blurred that line once again.
Royal commentators were quick to weigh in. Some called it an “honest mistake,” while others viewed it as a calculated branding move disguised as a personal gesture.
“This isn’t just a card,” one palace insider claimed. “It’s a reminder that the Sussexes are still very much leveraging their royal past when it suits them—intentionally or not.”
Read More: Royal Insider Breaks Silence on Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Intimate Anniversary Photo
Fans of Meghan, however, have come to her defense, pointing out that the card was not posted on social media or used in a commercial promotion. “This was clearly a private interaction,” said one supporter online.
Still, the optics of the situation have stirred new questions about the couple’s ongoing connection to the monarchy—and whether they should drop the titles altogether to avoid future clashes.
Adding fuel to the fire, the card’s circulation online prompted renewed calls for clarity around what the Sussexes can and cannot do under their royal agreement, particularly now that Queen Elizabeth II has passed.
As of now, Buckingham Palace has issued no formal statement on the incident. Neither Meghan nor Harry has commented publicly on the use of the HRH style in this specific case.
What remains clear is that even minor slip-ups—or perceived ones—can trigger global media storms when it comes to the Sussexes and their royal links.
This latest episode shows just how tightly Meghan and Harry are still tethered to their former royal roles, even years after their departure from the Firm.
Whether intentional or not, the revival of “HRH” on a gift card has once again put Meghan Markle in the spotlight, reigniting a debate that refuses to fade.
