Despite being an active member of the royal family, Meghan Markle does not hold the title of Princess Meghan. Upon her marriage to Prince Harry, she was bestowed with the title Duchess of Sussex by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
However, her official designation, albeit lesser-known, is Princess Henry of Wales. This unconventional title originates from Harry's birth name, Henry, and is a customary designation for women who marry into the royal family.
While she is commonly addressed as the Duchess of Sussex, her formal title reflects the tradition of assuming her husband's name within the Royal Highness.
The title of princess is typically conferred upon women who marry into the British royal family. However, both Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton have chosen not to adopt this title, making it relatively uncommon for modern royal women to do so. Kate Middleton received the same title upon her marriage to Prince William, yet she, too, has refrained from using it.
The only royal who currently employs this title is Princess Michael of Kent, originally known as Baroness Marie Christine von Reibnitz. Princess Michael embraced this title after her marriage to Prince Michael of Kent, who is a cousin of Queen Elizabeth. This decision sets her apart from more recent royal brides who have opted not to use the traditional princess title.
The issue of racism and cultural insensitivity has been a topic of concern within the British royal family. In 2017, Princess Michael of Kent faced criticism for wearing a Blackamoor brooch, a piece of jewelry depicting an African or non-European male in a subservient role, during her initial meeting with Meghan Markle.
This incident prompted Princess Michael to issue an apology for the perceived racist undertones. Meghan Markle's candid remarks on various subjects, including racism and politics, have sparked discussions about potential consequences for members of the royal family. While there have been speculations about Meghan losing her royal titles due to her outspoken nature, no such action has been taken as of yet.
It is worth noting that Meghan and Prince Harry chose to step away from their senior royal roles and relocate to the United States in 2020. Despite being married to a prince, Meghan Markle will never officially hold the title of Princess Meghan. This designation is reserved for those born directly into the royal family. Had she not been granted the Sussex title upon her marriage, Meghan would have been referred to as Princess Henry, following the traditional naming convention for wives of British princes.
