Meghan Markle has recently shared a string of unseen photos on social media featuring her children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet as well as a loved-up snap with Prince Harry for their wedding anniversary – and one royal expert believes it’s part of a plan
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has been on something of a charm offensive, sharing a slew of never-before-seen photos and videos of her family living their best lives in California.
But her wedding anniversary celebration album, which she posted on Instagram last week, became the subject of online chatter, especially because she posted one loved-up snap of herself and Prince Harry from the Instagram account of her new lifestyle brand, As Ever.
According to a royal expert, Meghan has a plan. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told new she believes the duchess, 43, is no doubt aware of the ongoing rumours that her husband is unhappy and is keen to silence them. “I think Meghan is a fighter,” said Jennie.
“She will be aware that some people, particularly in the UK, believe rumours that Harry is unhappy, and she’s determined to show that they have a strong marriage and a happy family life.
“I hope that’s true, and there’s no reason to disbelieve her. I think she’s also determined to show that she is a strong character and, from relatively humble beginnings, she has become a successful actress, and now an influencer and entrepreneur. I think she’s anxious to be seen as a successful businesswoman in her own right – and not just because she has lived briefly inside the palace walls and has a royal title.”
The subject of the pair’s royal titles has created controversy, and there is growing speculation about whether Prince William might strip them from the couple once he becomes king. While the former working royals are no longer supposed to use their HRH titles for commercial reasons, they still very much present themselves as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, titles which were gifted to them by Queen Elizabeth II on their wedding day in 2018.
There have been repeated calls from the anti-Sussex camp to strip them of the title, but no indication that King Charles has any intention of doing so. Yet with William, 42, next in line to the throne, rumours have circulated that he might take a different stance, especially since he and Harry, 40, are no longer on speaking terms and, according to Jennie, could be estranged forever.
“Granted, there seems to be a public appetite for stripping them of their titles, but I think it’s unlikely that William would choose to do this,” she said. “It would seem, and in fact would be, quite vindictive.” If William remains permanently estranged from his younger brother, it would be “a sad state of affairs”, she added.
Harry and Meghan’s children – Archie, six, and Lilibet, who turns four next week – were not automatically prince and princess at birth because they were not the grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II, the monarch at the time.
But they earned the right in September 2022, when Charles acceded to the throne, and they’re now officially Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex, sixth and seventh in the line of succession.
Following a backlash from those questioning the decision, given the couple’s earlier move to distance themselves from the royal family, the Sussex camp released a statement which said, “The children’s titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch. This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace.”
Meghan stirred up another title debate last month, when a podcast video revealed she had sent a gift basket with an accompanying card to a friend which read, “With the compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex.” Sources from the Sussex camp insisted it wasn’t a breach of the agreement, as they are still entitled to use HRH in private.
When they stepped back from royal duties in 2020, a statement from Buckingham Palace said, “The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the royal family.”
Jennie suspects, given the evidence that Meghan still uses the HRH title, that the couple would be “hurt and angry” if William were to remove them completely. “For Harry and Meghan, it would, of course, be a very public insult,” she said.
“Curiously, even though they have turned their backs on rejoining the working royals, they seem very wedded to the idea that their children should use their royal titles. And Meghan is clearly not averse to using her HRH, even though she was expressly told not to.
“So I’m sure they would be hurt and angry if theirs were taken from them. It would, inevitably, reduce their standing, particularly, perhaps, in the eyes of the American public, who seem to adore royalty. But I simply do not think this is going to happen.”
Another chapter of the Windsor-Sussex divide played out last week, when the Prince and Princess of Wales were included in the Time 100 Philanthropy 2025 list, but Harry and Meghan were not. Kate and William were included in the magazine’s Innovators category for “modernising royal philanthropy” and praised for being “less concerned with cultural preservation and more attuned to social issues”.
Jennie said the couple thoroughly deserves their place on the list, and not getting a mention themselves would have been a blow to the Sussexes.
“I’m sure Harry and Meghan will be disappointed that they haven’t made the list, especially as they have emphasised their focus on philanthropy on their website,” Jennie added. “I wish them well with the work they do, but now, firmly outside the royal family, they simply do not pack the same punch as the prince and princess.”