A new report detailing the Duchess of Sussex’s private conduct has ignited a fierce debate over her use of her royal title, with a former palace insider declaring she is “abusing” it and calling for the Prince of Wales to strip the Sussexes of their roles upon his accession. The controversy stems from a Harper’s Bazaar profile in which the journalist describes being announced to “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex” by a staff member in an otherwise empty room.
The anecdote, described by commentators as “confected and contrived,” has been seized upon as evidence of the Duchess’s alleged obsession with status and protocol. Royal commentators note the stark contrast with standard royal practice, where such formal announcements are reserved for official state business involving the monarch, not private meetings for a duchess.
“In the 13 years that I worked in the royal household for the late Queen, I’ve never ever seen anything like that before,” stated the insider during a televised discussion. “To have this for the Duchess of Sussex, and clearly she wanted it to happen so much… it just shows a level of insecurity.”
This incident is not viewed in isolation. Critics point to a pattern of behavior, including the alleged use of her title on personal correspondence, such as a letter to podcast host Jamie Kern Lima. The consistent deployment of her formal style, particularly in the United States where titles carry a different weight, is interpreted as a calculated effort to leverage royal prestige for commercial and social gain.
“I do think that she uses that with every scrap that she can to try and lift herself up status-wise,” the commentator continued, arguing the behavior directly contravenes the late Queen Elizabeth II’s wishes for a clean break. “The late queen’s wishes were that they didn’t have this one foot in, one foot out relationship with the royal family. And that’s exactly what they’re doing.”
The discussion has now escalated into a direct challenge to the couple’s future within the institution. With the precedent of Prince Andrew being stripped of his military patronages and royal patronages and ceasing to use his HRH style, the question of whether the Sussexes’ titles could meet a similar fate is now openly debated. While acknowledging the circumstances differ, voices within the commentary are urging decisive future action.
“I just hope that when William gets in, he strips them of the titles because I just don’t think she’s deserving of them and I think she’s abusing them at this point,” the insider asserted. The sentiment reflects a growing frustration among some royal observers who believe the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are exploiting their residual royal connections while attacking the institution.
The Harper’s Bazaar profile provided further fodder for this critique. Details such as insisting on a prime, visible table at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills—a known celebrity haunt—have been framed as evidence that the couple’s much-publicized quest for privacy is disingenuous. “This is total not status. This is staging of Meghan’s life,” argued one commentator. “If you want privacy, you don’t go to Beverly Hills at the best restaurant there where all the sort of celebrities hang out.”
The article’s portrayal of the Duchess, including her philosophical musings on jam and bravery, was met with derision. “It’s utter drivel,” stated one analyst, contrasting her endeavors with the service of other working royals. “I think about some of the royal family members who fought in wars or represented the country. That’s bravery. Not posing for a photo shoot.”
The core accusation is one of profound inauthenticity and a relentless pursuit of a celebrity narrative that clashes with the dignity of the titles they retain. Critics argue every staged moment and insisted-upon honorific undermines the very institution the titles represent, creating a unsustainable paradox of simultaneous rejection and exploitation.
With King Charles III facing his own challenges, including a battle with cancer, it is considered highly unlikely he would initiate the politically and personally fraught process of removing his son and daughter-in-law’s ducal titles. The focus has therefore shifted to his successor, Prince William, who is seen as potentially more willing to enact a firm, final separation to protect the monarchy’s integrity.
The debate underscores the unresolved and deeply contentious nature of the Sussexes’ relationship with the Crown. Their use of their Sussex title remains their most tangible link to the royal family, and this latest report has intensified scrutiny on that link, framing it not as a birthright but as a privilege being misused. The call for Prince William to sever it represents a hardening of attitudes, setting the stage for a potential constitutional and familial showdown in the reign to come.
The situation presents a monumental dilemma for the future king: balancing family reconciliation with the perceived duty to safeguard the Crown from perceived commercialism and inconsistency. Every public appearance and asserted title by the Sussexes is now viewed through this lens, adding pressure for a definitive resolution that the current monarch has thus far avoided.
As the court of public opinion deliberates, the fundamental question remains whether the titles “Duke and Duchess of Sussex” can survive as mere branding tools for global celebrity, detached from the duties and restraints of royal life. The growing chorus from certain quarters believes they cannot, and that the integrity of the monarchy demands a reckoning that only a new sovereign can deliver. The waiting game has begun, with every insisted-upon “Duchess of Sussex” seen by critics as another reason for its eventual revocation.
