Meghan Markle’s use of the title Her Royal Highness or HRH has caused a storm on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, sparked controversy when her friend Jamie Kern Lima shared a picture of a hamper filled with ‘homemade preserves, ice cream and other goodies’ including a message written in swirling calligraphy: ‘With the compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex’.

Although no laws were passed or documents signed to prevent their use, Harry and Meghan agreed with the late Queen and senior officials in a meeting dubbed the ‘Sandringham Summit’ that they would stop using the word ‘Royal’ and their HRH titles after they quit duties in 2020.

In a statement at the time Buckingham Palace said: ‘The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.’

A spokesman for the Sussexes insisted on Tuesday that the couple do not use their HRH titles for commercial purposes.

But on the latest episode of Palace Confidential, the Daily Mail’s Royal Editor Rebecca English revealed that Palace insiders are not surprised by Meghan’s move.

‘I have spoken to people who were around at the time when the whole Sandringham Summit took place and I think it’s fair to say there’s a fair amount of eye-rolling,’ she said.

‘It doesn’t come as a surprise to them.’

Meghan Markle, 43, on The Jamie Kern Lima show where her friend revealed a picture of a hamper signed by ‘HRH The Duchess of Sussex’

The Palace Confidential panel is made up of Richard Eden (left), the Daily Mail’s Diary Editor, Rebecca English (centre), the Daily Mail’s Royal Editor, and the show’s host Jo Elvin (right)

Joining Rebecca on the hit YouTube show is host Jo Elvin and the Daily Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden, who revealed that a source compared Harry and Meghan to ‘rebellious teenagers who are trying to push the limits to see what they can get away with’.

Richard pointed out that this is ‘not the first time’ Meghan has used the HRH title after stepping down as a working royal.

The former actress shared a message that was sent to her by Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister. The note began with: ‘Your Royal Highness’.

‘She wasn’t embarrassed to publicise that,’ Richard told the Palace Confidential panel. ‘It seems quite the opposite – she is keen to make that point that she is a Royal Highness.’

‘Am I misremembering?’ Jo interrupted. ‘In the famous Oprah interview, I don’t remember exact quotes but I certainly remember the flavour being “Oh, we just want to leave all of that royal formality behind, we want to live these simply authentic lives.”

‘So why is that HRH being used in any capacity?’

‘Well because I don’t think those statements before were true or authentic,’ Rebecca replied. ‘It’s a cachet and its relevancy and it’s a selling point of their position.’

Upon Archie’s birth in May 2019, Harry and Meghan told sources close to them, including Finding Freedom author Omid Scobie, that their son would not have a title.

Rebecca English (pictured) said Palace insiders are rolling their eyes and unsurprised by Meghan’s use of her title – despite the agreement made with the late Queen Elizabeth during the Sandringham Summit

On her podcast, Jamie Kern Lima shared a picture of a hamper including a message: ‘With the compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex’

‘But then they complained in that Oprah Winfrey interview that they were going to be denied titles,’ Richard explained. ‘So they made a point of calling their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet so it is something that they are really keen on.’

‘It’s hard to keep up,’ an exasperated Jo said. ‘What do you think Rebecca? Do you think the Palace will do anything? Have they done anything?’

Rebecca, who has recently returned from the Isle of Mull where the Prince and Princess of Wales celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary, said: ‘Well, they have deliberately not said anything.

‘We’ve discussed on the programme before, we are in the era of “let’s not poke the bear and let’s just try and have a period of peace”.

Referring back to Richard’s point about Archie and Lilibet’s titles,’ Rebecca said there was a lot of ‘frustration’ from the Palace when the couple displayed an ‘unwillingness to understand’.

According to a rule written by King George V in 1917, Archie did not have a birthright to be a prince, rather he became one when Charles was crowned King.

‘It wasn’t that they were being denied titles,’ Rebecca explained. ‘The way it worked was that they wouldn’t become HRHs, and Prince or Princesses in their own right until their grandfather King Charles came to the throne.

‘It was a question of: “Look, we don’t want to discuss this because obviously it means the loss of Queen Elizabeth but it will come to you in time and then it’s up to you, should you choose to use them.” And of course, as Richard said, absolutely they did.’

Richard Eden (pictured) pointed out that this is not the first time that Meghan has used her HRH title since stepping down as a working royal in 2020

Sources have said that Prince William will may strip the Duke and Duchess of Sussex of their royal titles when he becomes King

Later in the episode, Richard discussed how William might retaliate against his brother and sister-in-law when he becomes King, as reported this week by US outlet The Daily Beast.

‘The question has been: would William act differently from his father?

‘The King is not taking action; he is trying not to provoke them at all.

‘But people I have spoken to have suggested that William would not be so tolerant and perhaps he would strip them of their titles. But who knows?’

This is not the first team the Mail’s team of unrivalled royal experts have speculated what titles William may axe – or reinstate – when he becomes King.

In a special episode of Palace Confidential, the Daily Mail’s Editor-at-Large Richard Kay, who was a close friend of Diana’s, revealed that William may consider giving his late mother’s her royal title back.

While answering questions from viewers, Richard said: ‘On divorce, Diana lost her HRH title. A lot was made of it at the time. It was described as a rather cruel act on behalf of the royal family.

‘Although Diana had volunteered to lose it, she did come to regret it. She confided in me on several occasions that she wished she had managed to keep it.’

In a recent episode of Palace Confidential, Richard Kay, who was a close friend of Diana’s recently answered questions from viewers

Richard said he has reason to believe that William will reinstate Diana’s HRH when he takes to the throne

The late Princess of Wales’s close friend continued: ‘I understood why it happened but I also felt there was a very strong case as a mother of a future king why it should have been kept for her.

‘Diana told me that William said: “Don’t worry, Mummy. I’ll give you your HRH back.”

‘It wouldn’t at all surprise me if he did.’

For more fascinating insights, watch the latest episode of Palace Confidential in full now and subscribe to the Daily Mail Royals YouTube channel.