Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly still insisted staff address them as “sir” and “ma’am” despite not being part of the Royal Family, according to a scathing article about the couple.
US magazine Vanity Fair published a lengthy cover article about the Sussexes, which delves into their lives five years since they decided to quit as working royals.
At least two sources involved with the production of Archetypes and Harry’s book tour for Spare told Vanity Fair they were “instructed to address the couple as ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am’.”
Traditionally, Royal Family members are addressed by their titles and subsequently called “sir” or “ma’am”, but modern royals like the Prince and Princess of Wales are understood to often be addressed by their actual names.
However, the article reveals that this request was dropped after one person pushed back. In addition, other people who were interviewed for the article said they were encouraged to call the couple by their first names.
One source said: “I think ultimately it’s cachet and sets them apart as different and special. In the US, success, money, fame, all of that stuff exists out here. But a blood title, it’s few and far between.”
Last year, the CEO of the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 had a similar experience and revealed how he was told to address the couple.
Speaking to a local newspaper in Whistler, Scott Moore said: “I did make sure to ask how I should be addressing them when they get here, and I was told the simple sir and ma’am is fine.”
Harry and Meghan do not use their HRH styles for commercial gain following their official departure from the Royal Family in a working capacity.
In another scathing claim, another person characterised Meghan’s role in her marriage as a caregiver and facilitator to her husband.
“It kind of feels like she’s reparenting him in a way,” the source said.
The Vanity Fair article also quoted insiders as claiming Meghan could be “really, really awful” when things did not go her way at work and that things often went poorly due to the couple’s “demands”.
The article also has sources who are said to be neighbours of the couple in Montecito, saying they were “entitled” and “disingenuous”.
But according to The Times, the Sussexes have dismissed the allegations with a source close to them describing them as “distressing”.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
