Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, sparked a royal media firestorm after a gift card surfaced bearing the title “HRH The Duchess of Sussex.” The royal backlash was swift. Critics from the British press and royal commentators accused her of violating the 2020 agreement made during the Sandringham Summit, which stated that she and Prince Harry would no longer use their “HRH” titles after stepping back from royal duties. But the manufactured outrage misses the bigger picture. The royal family broke that agreement (and various others) long before Meghan ever signed a gift card.
Sandringham Summit and the Myth of a Binding Agreement
The so-called “Sandringham Summit” in January 2020 laid out the initial terms of Harry and Meghan’s exit from life as working royals. Key among these was the stipulation that while they would retain their HRH styles, they would no longer use them publicly. They also agreed to step back from using “Sussex Royal” branding and to refrain from commercializing their royal status. The royal family based the agreement not on law, but on mutual understanding and good faith. Buckingham Palace publicly confirmed that Harry and Meghan would retain their HRH titles but refrain from using them. That announcement was meant to close the matter.
But what followed in the months after proved the limits of that agreement. The palace cut funding for the Sussexes. Officials withdrew their security even as they were still working royals. King Charles took back Frogmore Cottage, even though Harry and Meghan had repaid the £2.4 million renovation cost and the late Queen had designated it as their UK home.
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Rules for Thee But Not for Me
When Camilla married Charles in 2005, Clarence House assured the public she would be styled as “Princess Consort” once Charles became king—a nod to lingering sensitivities around Princess Diana.
Queen Consort no more. The official Royal Family website has just updated Camilla’s title to The Queen: pic.twitter.com/GLpBs1EYpf
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) May 6, 2023
Yet by 2023, Charles declared her simply “Queen,” dropping “Consort” entirely and ignoring Queen Elizabeth’s earlier public guidance. At that point, the palace had clearly rewritten the rules. So why should Meghan and Harry be expected to uphold an agreements no one else seems interested in following?
Related | Meghan Sussex Shuts Down Gossip and Embraces Freedom on Jamie Kern Lima Podcast
Other Royals Use HRH Publicly So Why Is Meghan the Exception
Critics claim Meghan broke protocol by using “HRH” on a note reportedly sent to podcast host Jamie Kern Lima before the launch of her lifestyle brand As ever. They argue the gesture violated the 2020 agreement made during her royal exit. But Meghan’s team clarified she didn’t use the title for commercial purposes, and no evidence suggests she intended it that way. The use appeared personal, not promotional.
Royal protocol may object to Meghan’s use of “HRH,” but the title itself carries no legal restrictions. Critics treat Meghan like a criminal while they ignore how blatantly other royals use the HRH title without consequences. Take Princess Michael of Kent: she’s not a working royal, receives no taxpayer funding, and holds no official duties. Yet her books—ranging from historical fiction to wildlife memoirs—prominently feature “Her Royal Highness” on the cover and sell for profit.
No backlash, no tabloid frenzy, no stern lectures from royal commentators about dishonoring the Queen.
The same Princess Michael once wore a racist brooch to a royal lunch Meghan attended—and still enjoys full styling and royal privilege without controversy. But Meghan signs a gift card with HRH and suddenly, it’s headline news? The outrage isn’t about protocol. It’s about who’s allowed to bend it.
So if Princess Michael can use “HRH” to move books off a shelf, what exactly is the problem with Meghan using it on a gift card to a friend?
Public Sentiment Reflects a Shift in Royal Authority
The reaction to Meghan’s card reflects ongoing divisions in how the public perceives the royal family and its rules. Right-wing media slammed her for “disrespecting the Queen’s legacy,” and commentators like Ingrid Seward claimed the late monarch would have felt personally offended. Left-leaning and independent voices pushed back, noting that Meghan’s use of “HRH” was harmless, even expected, given that she technically still holds the title.
Critics demand that the couple lose their titles, while others view the backlash as yet another case of performative outrage. It may be that Meghan’s card likely came from pre-printed stationery, and that the royal family’s violations of the original agreement—from security to property—have rendered it meaningless.
The debate has also resurfaced speculation about future tensions. While King Charles has reportedly shown no interest in escalating the matter of Harry and Meghan’s royal titles. However, royal ‘insiders’ suggest Prince William may take a harsher stance when he ascends the throne. Yet even this possibility rings hollow as the monarchy has lost its moral credibility in its treatment of the Sussexes.
Final Thoughts
The real question is not whether Meghan used her title, but why it matters at all. After losing financial support, personal protection, and the only UK residence they had, Harry and Meghan have lived without the institutional safety or public backing once promised to them. In that light, a three-word card is hardly a scandal. It’s a reminder of the identity they were born—or married—into, and of the promises broken in silence.
People should not care how Meghan uses the HRH style in private or public. But one thing is clear: the royal family no longer controls the definition of “royal behavior,” and the public no longer agrees on how to respond when someone challenges that definition.
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The double standards are unbelievable. I think her HRH the Duchess of Sussex can use her HRH title if she wishes she’s not doing anything wrong and they deal with that.