A new report has shed light on what Meghan Markle may be planning for the day she no longer holds the title of Duchess of Sussex. According to Daily Mail reporter Sharon Hunt, Meghan appears to be preparing for such a possibility — and the groundwork may already be in motion.
Hunt began her piece by noting how “pressing” the issue of royal titles has become within palace walls. The situation surrounding Prince Andrew, who gave up the use of his titles but still faces public and internal scrutiny, has reportedly sparked concern in Montecito. “It may also be giving Meghan and Prince Harry pause for thought,” she wrote.
While Hunt made it clear that “the Sussexes’ conduct since stepping back from their royal roles bears no comparison to the gravity of the allegations against Andrew- Not even close,” she argued that recent developments show “a modernised Royal Family unwilling to sidestep controversy – and prepared to act decisively when titles become untenable.”
The idea that Meghan and Harry could one day lose their titles, Hunt suggested, “could be just a matter of time once William takes the throne.” She went on to propose that “the Sussexes may have already laid the groundwork for this eventuality – with a strategy to preserve their brand, even if their titles are no more.”
The shift may have started, Hunt noted, when Meghan corrected actress Mindy Kaling for referring to her as “Meghan Markle” rather than “Meghan Sussex.” “Yes, our first instinct may have been to cringe at the terse dressing-down. But in doing so, did we overlook a telling clue about the Sussexes’ long-term strategy to safeguard their royal brand?” she wrote.
“Could the strategy be to pivot from ‘Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’ to simply ‘Meghan Sussex’? To me, the signs point to yes,” Hunt added. As Meghan and Harry continue their independent lives in the United States, their formal connection to the Royal Family is becoming increasingly distant. Hunt suggested that “a time may come when King Charles – or more likely his successor – finds cause to formally revoke their titles as Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”
“In anticipation of such a shift,” she concluded, “have the couple – Meghan in particular – made the strategic move to adopt ‘Sussex’ as a de facto family surname? If so, it’s a shrewd piece of forward planning.”