During their recent visit to Canada, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made an unconventional request to officials at the Invictus Games, instructing them to address the couple as "Mom" and "Sir."
Their visit to Vancouver Whistler in British Columbia coincided with the one-year countdown to the Winter Games. According to Scott Moore, a veteran Canadian broadcaster and the new CEO for the Invictus Games, Meghan and Harry clarified their preferred titles during their conversation.
As reported in Richard Eden's column for the Daily Mail, Moore stated, "I did make sure to ask how I should be addressing them when they get here. I was told to simply say 'Sir' and 'Mom's fine.'"
This decision diverges from the traditional protocol for addressing members of the royal family, where male members are greeted as "Your Royal Highness" and then as "Sir," while female members are greeted as "Your Royal Highness" and then as "Ma'am."
However, since relinquishing their roles as senior working members of the royal family, Meghan and Harry no longer hold the title of "Your Royal Highness." Instead, they retain their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
This preference for informality is not entirely new for Harry. In 2020, during a tourism conference in Edinburgh, he requested to be addressed simply as "Harry" ahead of his speech, indicating a departure from the customary use of titles. However, the couple's use of their Sussex titles for private endeavors has raised eyebrows, as it potentially contravenes regulations prohibiting senior or junior British royals from leveraging their status for financial gain.
Royal journalist Michael Cole highlighted the potential legal ramifications of the couple's use of their royal titles for business purposes. He emphasized that while they are allowed to retain their titles as Duke and Duchess of Sussex, using them in conjunction with commercial ventures could be deemed illegal. Additionally, Cole clarified that "Sussex" is not their surname, but rather Mountbatten-Windsor, the family name of the British royal family.
The couple's decision to assert their titles in their digital presence, particularly in their business endeavors, has stirred controversy within royal circles. Cole suggested that the palace response to this breach of protocol remains uncertain, but it may entail formal reprimands or requests to cease and desist. As tensions simmer within the royal family over Meghan and Harry's actions, their every move continues to be scrutinized, with potential repercussions looming on the horizon.
