The feud between Prince Harry and Prince William remains unresolved six years after Harry and Meghan Markle left the UK for California, with the three-letter word 'HRH' continuing to cause tension. The rift, which deepened after the Sussexes' TV interviews and Harry's memoir Spare, was further strained by a blunder from Meghan in 2024.
The Sandringham Agreement
Under the 2020 Sandringham Agreement, negotiated with the late Queen Elizabeth II and the then Prince Charles, Harry and Meghan agreed not to use their 'HRH' titles in any active capacity after stepping back as senior working royals. A statement on their website at the time confirmed: 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.'
Meghan's blunder
In 2024, businesswoman Jamie Kern Lima, a close friend of Meghan, shared a photo on Instagram of a gift basket containing items from Meghan's product line. The tag attached to the package was signed: 'HRH The Duchess of Sussex'. While Meghan remains the Duchess of Sussex, using 'HRH' on a branded item was widely viewed as a direct breach of the Sandringham Agreement, sparking immediate backlash online.
Royal experts weigh in
Royal experts said the move blurred the line between commercial gain and royal status, the exact scenario the 2020 deal was designed to prevent. Speaking to Paris Match, royal expert Stéphane Bern noted: 'These three letters have reignited tensions at the very heart of the monarchy.'
William's frustration
Insiders revealed that the blunder left Prince William 'deeply frustrated'. The Prince of Wales, 42, has long maintained that using royal titles for commercial profit is unacceptable, leaving an already damaged relationship even harder to repair.
Previous incidents
In 2020, Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips sparked backlash after starring in a Chinese TV commercial for Bright Dairies, billing himself as a 'British Royal Family member'. Critics accused him of cashing in on his royal ties, behaviour Prince William has always been keen to avoid. Buckingham Palace never issued a formal response, but royal aides reportedly took note.
Harry and Meghan did not comment directly on the matter at the time, but their previous stance had been that they retain the right to use their titles as long as they are not acting in an official royal capacity.
