A close colleague of Prince Harry has shared how Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, asked to be addressed - and it's not what you might expect

23:39, Tue, Aug 4, 2026 Updated: 23:47, Tue, Aug 4, 2026

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, takes part in the Scar Tree Walk on day three of the royal trip on A

Meghan Markle withdrew as a senior working royal in 2020 (Image: Pool, Getty Images)

A close associate of Prince Harry has disclosed how his wife Meghan Markle, who celebrates her 45th birthday today, requested to be addressed during a professional meeting.

Scott Moore, appointed chief executive of Prince Harry's Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, first encountered her a year prior at a "One Year To Go" event.

There was one particular matter he was keen to clarify before speaking with her. "I did make sure to ask how I should be addressing them when they get here," he explained, in Richard Eden's column for the Daily Mail.

He was simply informed that: "Ma'am' is fine."

He was similarly advised that "Sir" was the appropriate way to address Harry. Traditionally, male members of the Royal Family are first addressed as 'Your Royal Highness', followed by 'Sir', while female members are referred to as 'Your Royal Highness', and then 'Ma'am'.

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However, following Harry and Meghan's decision to step back as senior working royals in 2020, the couple were stripped of their HRH titles. As a result, they can no longer be addressed as Your Royal Highness, though they retain their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles.

The use of formal titles such as 'Sir' for Prince Harry and 'Ma'am' for Meghan Markle marks a notable shift from his earlier stance back in 2020.

At that time, during a tourism conference in Edinburgh, Harry famously advocated a far more informal approach. Event host Ayesha Hazarika revealed: "He's made it clear that we are all just to call him Harry."

Meghan has found herself in the headlines once again in recent weeks following a surprise appearance on MasterChef Australia.

The episode attracted over a million viewers – yet it was her introduction that truly set tongues wagging.

The eagerly awaited episode, which was recorded back in April, eventually aired on television screens late last month.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex during a Scar Tree Walk on April 16,

Harry and Meghan were stripped of their HRH titles (Image: Asanka Ratnayake, Getty Images)

Behind the scenes, the Duchess of Sussex proved popular with the production team, with programme insiders describing her as "delightful" and "easy-going" on set.

Nevertheless, the question of how she was formally introduced on the show has triggered a renewed bout of controversy.

The furore erupted when judge Poh Ling Yeow welcomed her into the renowned kitchen, declaring to the contestants: "We've had MasterChef royalty in the kitchen before, but no one like this... please welcome to MasterChef Australia... the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle!".

Sources close to Meghan suggested the particular use of the word "royalty" did not sit well, considering that she is no longer a working member of the Royal Family.

Viewers watching the broadcast were similarly frustrated. Numerous fans objected to the introduction, voicing their displeasure that her "Duchess" title was employed for the television appearance.