Meghan Markle: The Duchess of Sussex sparks controversy by continuing to use this Royal custom

The Duchess of Sussex sent a personal note to author Allison Yarrow, thanking her for participating in an episode of her podcast Archetypes. The stationary on which Meghan wrote her thank-you note has Royal fans and the public in a frenzy.

Why does Meghan have a Royal cypher?

The Duchess of Sussex joined the Royal family after marrying Prince Harry in 2018. Shortly after their wedding, the newlyweds revealed their Royal conjugal monogram, cementing their union further. A cursive letter M intertwined with an H topped with a crown.

The pair used it as a letterhead on personal correspondence. According to Town & Country, journalist Georgie Gardner of Australia's The Today Show was the first to reveal Meghan and Harry's conjugal monogram publicly.

By tradition, each member of the Royal family has an individual cypher, and each couple has a conjugal one.

Thus, a little before their wedding, the soon-to-be-Duchess revealed her personal cypher, a simple cursive M topped with a crown.

Can Meghan still use it?

After stepping down from Royal duties, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were stripped of their HRH status. The couple were no longer ‘members of the Royal Family’ and could no longer use the term ‘royal’ in their image and branding.

However, it has recently been revealed that the Duchess of Sussex still uses her personal cypher after author Allison Yarrow shared the thank-you note she received from Meghan.

According to royal commentator Angela Levin, Meghan does it for ‘the prestige’ it gives her. Levin strongly believes that if the Duchess of Sussex really disliked the Royal Family as much as she claims, she would do away with everything Royal.

The author said:

She doesn't want to be out; she doesn't want to be in. She wants to do exactly what she wants. And there she is, using the crown when she's moved away.

Levin went as far as to imply that Meghan is holding on to her titles because ‘it gives her more work and more attention.’ According to her, ‘milking the royal name’ on a global stage is a ‘fantastic little helper politically’.

Levin then proceeded to slam the Duchess, saying that the Royal Family gave her everything. She claimed that she should be full of gratitude for her in-laws:

[...] for making her one of the most famous women in the world, for making her incredibly rich, for giving her a husband who adores her - and she can't show the smallest bit of gratitude.

Very harsh words, considering the Duchess of Sussex was already famous before meeting her husband, Prince Harry.

Sources used:

- The Sun: MAKING HER MARK Secret sign ‘show-off’ Meghan Markle is ‘milking the Royal name as far as she can’ for ‘prestige’

- The Daily Mail: Meghan Markle is 'showing off' for continuing to use stationery with her royal cypher almost three years after quitting official duties, royal expert claims

- Town & Country: Here's Your First Look at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Joint Royal Monogram