Meghan Markle calls herself Her Royal Highness with friends but has denied she is flouting a warning by the late Queen not to use her royal title to make money, MailOnline can reveal today.
The former actress, 43, has sparked controversy after her friend Jamie Kern Lima shared a picture of a food hamper with a note that said it was ‘With the compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex’.
Although no laws were passed or documents signed to prevent their use, Harry and Meghan’s agreement with the late Queen and senior officials was that they would stop using the word ‘Royal’ and their HRH titles after they quit duties and emigrated to the US to become ‘financially independent’ from the Crown.
A spokesman for the Sussexes has insisted today that they do not use HRH titles for commercial purposes.
But critics have said that the image of the note with some ice cream and jam, published yesterday, was a tacit plug for Meghan’s As Ever lifestyle range, while also promoting her new podcast episode with her friend Jamie.
A source close to the royal couple suggested that the image shared by Jamie Kern Lima was taken before the Duchess launched her As Ever brand in early March
In the podcast, Jamie Kern Lima claimed that she had been sent the jam last year.
The Sussexes have never had their HRH taken away by Queen Elizabeth II or King Charles.
The source close to the couple said that while Meghan and Harry do not publicly use ‘HRH‘, their titles remain.
Jamie’s hamper image suggests that Meghan does use it with friends and in personal correspondence.
The gift basket and HRH note was sent to Meghan’s friend, CEO of IT Cosmetics Jamie Kern Lima. Meghan’s spokesman denies that she is using it for commercial gain
Meghan has often appeared to make thinly veiled swipes at the Royal Family, most recently claiming in a new podcast episode that her and Harry were ‘in the trenches’ when they first started dating
The ‘HRH, The Duchess of Sussex‘ note was spotted on a card by eagle-eyed royal fans yesterday.
The gift basket was sent to Meghan’s friend, CEO of IT Cosmetics Jamie, when she had in-laws staying and the Duchess wanted to help out.
A screenshot of the hamper has since circulated online after featuring on Jamie’s podcast on Sunday – and appears to feature the Duchess’ homemade strawberry jam.
The basket also includes two jars of Straus organic ice cream, some flowers, mint, and the note with Meghan’s royal title embellished on it.
Royal fans have reacted furiously to the name on the card this evening, with one writing on X: ‘I thought they couldn’t use HRH?’
Another said: ‘She’s not to [use] it per the Queen!’
Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior royals in January 2020 and embarked on a new life together in California.
In a statement at the time Buckingham Palace said: ‘The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.’
HRH, an abbreviation of His/Her Royal Highness, is used as part of the title of some members of the royal family.
Since their exit, Meghan has often appeared to make thinly veiled swipes at the Royal Family, most recently claiming in a new podcast episode that her and Harry were ‘in the trenches’ when they first started dating.
In her first ever podcast interview, Meghan opened up to Jamie about her family life in Montecito with Harry and their children, Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.
Meghan revealed she was sending the youngsters an email every day to create a ‘time capsule’ they could revisit when they are older.
Meghan is pictured with Prince Harry on their wedding day in 2018
The mother-of-two became emotional as she read out a letter from them which read: ‘From Archie and Lili via Papa. We love your cooking. We love your pancakes and we love, love, love your hugs. You’re the best mummy and we love you.’
Referring to the note, Meghan said: ‘So sweet. I also love that it’s mummy, instead of mommy, which is very British.’
Blinking back tears, she added: ‘I wasn’t expecting this, they’re just so great. This is why it’s so nice to have no make up on, thank you.’
During the podcast, released on Sunday, the Duchess also spoke of her relationship with Harry, saying she was more in love than she’s ever been before making a seemingly pointed remark that some have interpreted as a swipe at the royals.
‘You have to imagine, at the beginning it’s all butterflies – but then we immediately went into the trenches together,’ she said.
‘Right out of the gate, like six months into dating. So now seven years later, when you have a little bit of breathing space, you can just enjoy each other in a new way. And that’s why I feel like it’s more of a honeymoon period for us now.’
MailOnline has contacted Harry and Meghan’s representatives for comment.
