Royal Weddings, Then and Now: Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton, and Princess Diana | The New Yorker

The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle has previously used the title of Princess, despite never being bestowed it by the royal family after she wed Prince Harry in 2018.

Meghan Markle is reported to be preferring to call herself a princess over her primary royal title of the Duchess of Sussex.

Despite stepping back from the royal family in 2020, Meghan and husband Prince Harry still retain their royal titles. The couple now live in Montecito, California, with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

In a previous interview, the former Suits actress appeared to ditch her Duchess title in favour of a more royal status as she referred to herself “a real-life princess”. The title is not one that Meghan has ever publicly been given, and her sister-in-law Princess Kate has only been referred to as a Princess since King Charles took the throne in 2023.

Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle has referred to herself as “a real-life princess” in past interviews

In her 2022 interview with The Cut, the Duchess stated: “It’s important to be thoughtful about it because – even with the Oprah interview, I was conscious of the fact that there are little girls that I meet and they’re just like, ‘Oh my God, it’s a real-life princess.’”

She added: “I just look at all of them and think, ‘You have the power within you to create a life greater than any fairy tale you’ve ever read’. I don’t mean that in terms of ‘You could marry a prince one day.’ I mean you can find love. You can find happiness. You can be up against what could feel like the greatest obstacle and then you can find happiness again.”

Typically marrying into the royal family would see the wife of a Prince named as ‘Princess consort’, but in the past many have taken on Duchess titles such as Kate becoming the Duchess of Cambridge when she married Prince William in 2011.