The Royal world is buzzing once again—this time, not from Buckingham Palace, but from a quiet yet powerful voice: the Duchess of Northumberland. In a rare and eye-opening interview, she broke her silence, subtly but pointedly throwing shade at Meghan Markle for excessively flaunting the title “Duchess of Sussex”—a title that many believe she shouldn’t be brandishing so publicly anymore.

Ever since Meghan and Prince Harry stepped back from royal duties, she has been relentlessly criticized for continuing to use her royal title in media, public appearances, letters, and even gift cards. While the Sussexes still retain their titles, they are not permitted to use them for personal or commercial gain. But that hasn’t stopped Meghan—quite the opposite.

The controversy exploded again after details from Meghan’s Harper’s Bazaar magazine photoshoot surfaced. When interviewer Kaitlyn Greenidge arrived at the Manhattan brownstone, the house manager grandly announced: “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex”—even though there were only two other people in the house. Critics called it a staged performance meant to reinforce her royal branding.

But what really turned heads was when another Duchess, Jane Percy—better known as the Duchess of Northumberland—quietly but sharply commented:

“Unlike other Duchesses who put their names everywhere, I’m not using my title. It could be detrimental, as one or two Duchesses haven’t really helped the cause lately.”

She didn’t name names. She didn’t have to.

With the spotlight already scorching Meghan for things like signing cards with “HRH The Duchess of Sussex” and sending monogrammed gifts marked with her full title, royal watchers have had enough.

Online reactions were brutal:

“She’s clinging to that title like it’s her last lifeline. She doesn’t realize the Royal Family can take it back any time.”

“Didn’t she say in the Oprah interview that titles meant nothing to her?”

“Why is her doorman announcing her title? It’s like she wants the world to remember she once belonged to royalty.”

As royal insiders whisper about whether King Charles might tighten title restrictions even further, Meghan continues to walk a fine line between celebrity and royalty—one public introduction at a time.