Meghan Markle’s practice of asking friends to announce her to guests when she enters a room is at odds with the royal protocol it is seemingly intended to imitate, according to experts.
Meghan was announced by her full title to a room – with only one other person in it – during an interview for Harper’s Bazaar.
Journalist Kaitlyn Greenidge revealed the bizarre moment happened when she went to interview the Duchess of Sussex at a property in New York.
The writer said that as she walked into the room, the house manager declared: ‘Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’ – despite it only being the three of them inside.
A clearly bemused Ms Greenidge wrote in her article for the magazine: ‘We’re in a grand brownstone on the Upper East Side that belongs to one of Meghan’s friends.
‘When I enter, the house manager announces, ‘Meghan, Duchess of Sussex,’ even though we appear to be the only other two people in the house.’
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, an etiquette expert and former editor of The International Who’s Who, confirmed that the announcement broke royal protocol.
He told the Daily Mail: ‘I have often felt that Meghan took to heart Oscar Wilde’s dictum, ‘To love oneself is the beginning of a lifetime’s romance’.’
Mr Fitzwilliams said the announcement as reported in the interview, ‘would make a wonderful skit in the South Park series’, adding: ‘It speaks volumes, in an interview calculated not to offend, about the importance Meghan attaches to her royal status.’
The Duchess of Sussex gave a revealing interview about her family life to Harper’s Bazaar
Meghan Markle was photographed by Malick Bodian and interviewed by Kaitlyn Greenidge
He also pointed out that earlier in the interview she was introduced to a group of girls as “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex”, adding that ‘she is and it is perfectly correct’.
However, Mr Fitzwilliams explained that the journalist should be announced to her – rather than Meghan being announced to the journalist and ‘so this breaks protocol’, adding: ‘It also makes her look silly.’
He continued: ‘There was that painful scene when she did a mock curtsey imitating what happened when she met Queen Elizabeth II for the first time in the Netflix documentary Harry and Meghan. She calls it ‘medieval’.
‘She had also appeared to mock curtsy in the infamous Oprah interview.’
Mr Fitzwilliams also referenced the famous dialogue when the late Queen Elizabeth II appeared alongside James Bond actor Daniel Craig in a comedy sketch for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.
In the clip, Craig called at Buckingham Palace to summon the Queen and was announced by a royal aide as he walked into the room as: ‘Mr Bond, Your Majesty’
The Queen, sitting at her writing desk, made him wait before greeting him with the words: ‘Good evening, Mr Bond’. He replied: ‘Good evening, Your Majesty.’
Mr Fitzwilliams said: ‘Someone is obviously announced when, say, James Bond arrives to escort Queen Elizabeth to the Olympics. He is announced as ‘Mr Bond, Your Majesty’ and then he enters.
In March, Meghan rebuked her actress friend Mindy Kaling during her Netflix cookery show With Love, Meghan for not using her ‘Sussex’ name – telling The Office star: ‘I’m Sussex now’
‘Meghan wants to have a halo in the interview by saying nothing nasty about anyone and being full of positive thoughts.
‘However, in her use of her title in this pricelessly comic way she speaks volumes about herself. She could be alone and be announced.’
Guidance from Buckingham Palace and etiquette guide Debrett’s suggests that it is the visitor who is normally announced, rather than the Royal Family member.
The official royal website states that audiences held for a high commissioner or ambassador and their spouse with the monarch see the visitors’ names announced as they enter the state or semi-state room by the Marshall of the Diplomatic Corps.
Debrett’s adds that introductions to the royals are known as ‘presentations’, and it is only necessary to state the name of the person to be presented.
For example, someone meeting King Charles III or Queen Camilla might be announced as follows: ‘Your Majesty, may I present Mr John Smith?’.
The same rule follows for other members of the Royal Family – and Debrett’s states that upon being presented and leaving, men should bow and women curtsy.
Debrett’s also says those speaking with the King or Queen should use ‘Your Majesty’ for the first time and then ‘Sir’ or ‘Ma’am’, rhyming with ‘lamb’.
References to other Royal Family members are made to ‘His (or Her) Royal Highness’ or the appropriate title, such as the ‘Princess Royal’ for Princess Anne.
Back in March, Meghan rebuked her actress friend Mindy Kaling during her Netflix cookery show With Love, Meghan for not using her ‘Sussex’ name.
When Kayling used Meghan’s maiden name, the Duchess spoke about being a Sussex: ‘You keep saying, Meghan Markle, you know, I’m Sussex now.
‘You have kids, and you go, ‘now I share my name with my children’ … I didn’t know how meaningful it would be to me, but it just means so much to go ‘this is our family name, our little family name’.’
Harry and Meghan stopped using their HRH styles when they stepped away from the monarchy – and there were calls at the time for them to lose their Sussex titles, but this can only be actioned through legislation.
In the cover interview for the magazine, Meghan revealed how she was drawn to her husband Prince Harry’s ‘childlike wonder and playfulness’ as she spoke about family life.
Meghan said she appreciates spending more time with her children because she can work from home.
The Duke of Sussex is set to make his first appearance in Meghan’s Netflix series when the festive edition airs on December 3. Harry has not yet featured in the programme but appears briefly in a 65-second trailer this week when he and the duchess share a kiss in a kitchen
She added that Harry ‘loves me so boldly, fully, and he also has a different perspective because he sees media that I wouldn’t’.
The former Suits actress said: ‘No one in the world loves me more than him, so I know he’s always going to make sure that he has my back.
‘You have someone who just has this childlike wonder and playfulness. I was so drawn to that, and he brought that out in me.’
She told the magazine that Harry’s ‘playfulness’ has ‘translated into every part of our life’ – even to business.
‘I want us to play and have fun and explore and be creative,’ Meghan said in the interview.
The Duchess, who on the same day released the trailer for the Christmas special of her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, also gave insight into life as a mother to young children.
Meghan and Harry, who stepped down as working royals and moved to California in 2020, have two children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.
The duchess said: ‘My office is right by the kitchen, and I love that I can work from home,’ she said. ‘It’s a great luxury.
‘(Lilibet) comes and sits on my lap when I’m in the middle of the meeting, whether it’s about P(rofit) and L(oss) for my brand or it’s about something creative.’
The 44-year-old said her boundaries became stronger when she came into the public eye.
‘You find different ways to protect yourself, whether that’s self-preservation or it’s just growing up,’ she told the magazine.
A royal expert referenced what was said when Queen Elizabeth II appeared alongside James Bond actor Daniel Craig for the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony. In the clip, Craig was announced by a royal aide as he walked into the room as: ‘Mr Bond, Your Majesty’
The duchess also said she gives herself grace when she makes mistakes in business, though she did not elaborate on what errors she has made.
Meghan said: ‘I’m a mom with kids at that age where they are constantly learning something new.
‘I watch them face things that feel completely insurmountable every day. But you can remember and say, ‘I know it seems really hard right now, but trust me, that’s going to come so easily soon.’
‘I can give myself the same grace as a founder. There’s no such thing as perfect. I, too, get to make mistakes.’
The Duke of Sussex is set to make his first appearance in Meghan’s Netflix series when the festive edition airs on December 3.
Harry has not yet featured in the programme but appears briefly in a 65-second trailer when he and the duchess share a kiss in a kitchen.
The show, which sees Meghan offer hosting tips while she cooks with celebrity friends, was savaged by critics following its release in March.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex secured a lucrative contract with Netflix, thought to be worth more than $100million (£74million), in 2020, after their exit from being senior working royals.
Harry and Meghan announced they had signed a new ‘multi-year, first-look deal for film and television projects’ with the streaming platform in August.
Meghan described the deal as ‘an incredible sign of the strength of our partnership’, despite rumours the streaming giant may be pivoting away from her and Harry.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.celebrity.land.co.uk ’
