“Meghan Markle does not deserve to hold a royal title”

The glittering lights of Paris Fashion Week have once again cast Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, into the global spotlight — but this time, the reaction has been anything but glamorous. What was meant to be a celebratory appearance at Balenciaga’s Spring/Summer 2026 show has ignited a fierce debate about whether Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, should still hold their royal titles. For many observers, the episode underscores an uncomfortable truth: Meghan continues to use the prestige of the British monarchy as a personal brand, despite having long abandoned the duties that accompany it.

A Legacy of Glamour and Controversy

Meghan Markle’s relationship with fame has always been complex. Long before her royal chapter began, she was already a familiar face in Hollywood thanks to her role in Suits. Yet even in those early days, whispers of controversy trailed her career. Years before meeting Prince Harry, rumors linked Meghan to a so-called “yacht scandal” — an unverified claim suggesting she attended high-profile events aboard luxury yachts with wealthy elites. Although the allegations were never substantiated, they resurfaced repeatedly as her fame grew, feeding a narrative that her ambitions extended far beyond acting.

When Meghan entered the royal circle in 2016, the media’s fascination with her background intensified. She was modern, confident, and outspoken — qualities that both energized and unsettled the British establishment. But within a few short years, the fairytale began to unravel.

The Royal Rift: How Meghan and Harry Walked Away

The couple’s decision in early 2020 to step back from royal duties — famously dubbed “Megxit” — marked one of the most dramatic moments in modern royal history. The pair cited an unbearable level of media scrutiny and a desire for independence. Yet critics argue that Meghan was the driving force behind their departure, convincing Harry to turn his back on an institution that defined his entire life.

Reports from palace insiders at the time painted a picture of growing tension: clashes over protocol, frustration over press coverage, and differing visions for the future. To Meghan’s supporters, her actions represented a courageous break from an outdated system. To her detractors, it was a strategic retreat — one that allowed her to rebrand herself as a global celebrity while retaining the prestige of royal titles.

Hollywood, Politics, and Public Backlash

Once free from royal constraints, Meghan and Harry wasted no time building their new empire. They signed multimillion-dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify, launched the Archewell Foundation, and embarked on a whirlwind of media projects designed to shape their own narrative.

But the reaction has been deeply polarized. The much-publicized Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021 — during which Meghan made explosive claims about her time in the royal family — widened the rift between the Sussexes and the monarchy. While supporters praised her honesty, many Britons saw it as a betrayal, accusing her of damaging the royal family’s global reputation.

The couple’s ventures since then have done little to repair their image. Their Netflix documentary was viewed as overly self-indulgent, their Spotify partnership collapsed after one season, and Harry’s memoir Spare reignited tensions with his family. Public opinion polls in the UK now consistently show Meghan’s favorability at record lows, with many Britons expressing fatigue — even disdain — for her ongoing media presence.

Paris: The Breaking Point

That fatigue turned into fury after Meghan’s unexpected appearance at Paris Fashion Week. Dressed head-to-toe in Balenciaga and photographed alongside global celebrities, she exuded the polished confidence of a Hollywood A-lister. But the optics were troubling: here was the Duchess of Sussex — a woman who had rejected royal life — using her title to secure front-row seats at one of the world’s most exclusive events.

For many, this was the moment that crossed the line. British commentators quickly condemned what they saw as hypocrisy. “If you’ve left the institution, you can’t keep using its name when it suits you,” one columnist wrote. Online, hashtags like #RemoveTheTitles began trending within hours. Even traditionally neutral royal correspondents acknowledged that public frustration had reached new heights.

In contrast, Meghan’s defenders argued that she remains a public figure by marriage, and that using her title in social settings is neither illegal nor unethical. Yet even among sympathizers, there is growing discomfort with how frequently the Sussexes’ royal status seems to serve their personal brand.

The Title Debate: A Matter of Integrity

Under British law, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain entitled to their peerage — granted by Queen Elizabeth II on their wedding day in 2018. Only Parliament or the monarch could strip them of it, and historically, such actions are exceedingly rare. However, the symbolic argument has gained traction.

To critics, Meghan’s ongoing use of her title undermines the very principles it represents. “A royal title is not an accessory,” one royal historian observed. “It signifies duty, continuity, and service. By using it for commercial or social gain, Meghan and Harry distort its meaning.”

Supporters of the monarchy view this as an issue of fairness: how can two people profit from the prestige of the institution while publicly criticizing it? For many royal watchers, the answer is simple — they shouldn’t.

The Broader Public Reaction

Across social media and the press, reactions to the Paris appearance have been unrelentingly harsh. Tabloids described it as “a tone-deaf display of ego,” while comment sections overflowed with frustration from readers who feel Meghan has repeatedly disrespected royal tradition.

Even in the United States, where she once enjoyed overwhelming support, the tide appears to be turning. Several entertainment outlets have noted that public interest in Meghan and Harry’s ventures has waned. “The problem is overexposure,” one media analyst explained. “They wanted to control the narrative, but now the narrative controls them.”

In Britain, the sentiment is even more unforgiving. Polls suggest that a majority of the public no longer believes Meghan and Harry should hold royal titles. Many see the Paris appearance as proof that they have no intention of leading private lives — only ones carefully curated for publicity and influence.

A Pattern That Won’t Fade

From the alleged yacht scandal years ago to the Oprah interview and the constant stream of tell-all projects, Meghan Markle’s trajectory has followed a consistent pattern: glamour followed by backlash, admiration followed by outrage. Each time, she reemerges in the spotlight with renewed confidence, seemingly unfazed by criticism.

But in the eyes of many royal watchers, her latest Paris appearance symbolizes something larger — the transformation of royal symbolism into personal branding. The Duchess of Sussex has become, in effect, a global celebrity trading on royal prestige without royal purpose.

The Road Ahead

Whether or not King Charles or Parliament will act to remove the Sussex titles remains uncertain. Yet the growing chorus of discontent cannot be ignored. The monarchy’s credibility depends on the perception of integrity, duty, and restraint — values that many feel are contradicted by Meghan and Harry’s actions.

If the couple truly seeks independence, critics argue, they must accept it in full — without the privileges that come from the institution they rejected. Until then, every appearance, every project, and every headline will continue to be shadowed by the question: can one truly be both royal and rebel?

As one royal commentator aptly put it, “You can leave the Palace, but you can’t take the Crown with you.”