Meghan Markle Quietly Continues Using Her Royal Title Years After Exit
Meghan's royal title featured prominently during a recent well-received appearance.
After days of headlines around her UK return, attention has now turned to Meghan Markle’s latest appearance, where she took the stage to loud applause after being introduced as 'Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.' It happened during an early-morning screening at a film festival on Sunday, where Markle took the stage to support Cookie Queens, a documentary backed by Archewell Productions. As she walked onstage, waving to the crowd, the reception was unmistakably warm.
Thanking the audience for turning up early, Markle opened with an easy, conversational note. “Thank you guys so much for being here bright and early,” she said, acknowledging the effort required after late festival nights. “I know some of you probably had late nights last night, so extra thanks for the effort. Nothing that little cookies and coffee can't help.”
From there, she shifted focus to the project itself, speaking not only as a supporter but as someone invested in the story being told. “Look, my husband and I and our Archewell Productions, we are so proud and privileged to be able to support and uplift Cookie Queens,” she said, calling it “probably the cutest film at the festival.”
“I’m also going to go out on a limb and say it is one of the most powerful and meaningful depictions of something that is an American tradition and rooted in nostalgia,” she continued. According to Markle, the documentary succeeds by reframing that tradition through a contemporary lens, crediting director Alyssa for bringing “something modernised about the girlhood experience and all the layers of complexity that come with that.”
Her remarks continued on the idea of young women being underestimated, a theme that she has repeatedly tried to portray through her public work. “So, yes, it’s cute. And yes, these young ladies are fantastic and adorable,” she said. “But they are also layered, beautiful girls who are about to become very strong leaders and young women.”
Markle also highlighted the effort behind the film, describing it as “such a labour of love” that took years to complete. She pointed to the trust extended by the families involved and the “hundreds of hours of trusted, fly-on-the-wall material” that allowed the filmmakers to tell an intimate, unfiltered story.
Beyond the stage, Markle’s presence continued to draw attention on the red carpet, where she was asked about her own family—specifically, whether her daughter, Princess Lilibet, now four, might one day become a Girl Scout. However, she took the diplomatic route while answering the question. “It’s interesting,” Meghan said. “I think we’ll consider to explore, continue to explore whatever feels right.”
This is far from the first time Meghan Markle’s use of her royal title has attracted attention. She has reportedly insisted on being addressed as “the Duchess,” with sources noting that she is introduced by her royal title wherever she goes, from high-profile public events to more everyday settings like her local gym. The detail recently drew notice again after it was mentioned in a Harper’s Bazaar profile.
