Meghan Markle was reportedly insistent on being addressed as "Duchess" while filming her Netflix show, but the streaming giant wasn’t willing to play along.
Despite stepping away from royal duties and distancing herself from the UK, she seemingly wanted to remind everyone of her title. According to royal expert Neil Sean, the former actress—now a full-time PR strategist—was determined to ensure that her royal status remained front and center in her latest Netflix project, as if the audience needed a reminder of her connection to the monarchy.
However, Netflix had no interest in indulging this request. The idea of rebranding her as “Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex” must have seemed absurd, considering that the real appeal of the show wasn’t her culinary talents but rather the ever-present drama surrounding her. Despite Netflix’s refusal, sources claim Meghan still managed to enforce her title on set, reportedly requiring crew members to address her as “Duchess.” This raises questions about how genuine her claims of wanting to be seen as "just Meghan" really are. One can only imagine the behind-the-scenes eye-rolls as overworked crew members juggled their responsibilities while catering to her demands.
In classic Meghan fashion, a well-timed PR piece soon followed, seemingly aimed at counteracting any negative reports. According to People magazine, an anonymous crew member praised her warmth and generosity on set, describing how she treated the staff to coffee carts, customized ice cream stations, monogrammed gifts, and even handmade bows. The glowing review painted her as an absolute delight to work with, though it’s hard not to wonder if such compliments had a certain "Duchess-shaped" origin. When was the last time an entire production crew spontaneously gushed about a celebrity’s kindness in a way that read like a Hallmark script?
Of course, for those who have followed Meghan’s journey, this PR spin isn’t particularly convincing. This is the same woman accused of reducing royal staff to tears, allegedly bullying her way through palace life, and now expecting the world to believe she is the patron saint of film crews. It’s almost comical to think Netflix may have planted such stories to salvage their investment, though if that was the plan, it doesn’t seem to be working.
Then there’s the irony of it all. Meghan and Harry have spent years insisting that titles don’t matter, claiming they don’t need them. Yet, here she is, clinging to "Duchess" at every opportunity. Without it, what is she? A former actress with dwindling public influence? A podcast host whose deal with Spotify was unceremoniously dropped? A celebrity struggling to remain relevant while her husband fades further into obscurity?
Netflix understands the reality—viewers aren’t tuning in for Meghan’s cooking expertise or hospitality skills. They’re here for the spectacle, the drama, and the never-ending royal soap opera that continues to unfold. And Meghan, ever the performer, is more than happy to deliver. While Netflix may have rejected her demand for the Duchess title, she certainly isn’t letting go of it just yet. After all, without it, what else does she really have?
