Meghan Markle's use of royal title called 'a strategic misstep' by PR expert

Meghan Markle is facing renewed criticism for holding on to her royal identity despite stepping down as senior working royal.

The Duchess of Sussex sparked the debate after she appeared in the latest issue of Harper's Bazaar and was formally introduced to the interviewer as "Meghan, Duchess of Sussex."

Journalist Kaitlyn Greenidge revealed that a house manager made the announcement as she entered a New York brownstone for their interview.

Speaking on the matter, PR expert Renae Smith told The Express that Meghan's reliance on royal branding undermines her attempts to build an independent identity.

"From a PR perspective, it is such a bad idea," she added. "It is confusing, it is provocative in the wrong way and it puts her straight back beneath the royal shadow she always bloody insists she wants to get away from."

The expert continued, "It's not hard to avoid anything royal. But she can't go two weeks without doing something linked back to the Royal Family!

"I guess Harry might love it. I would assume she checked with him first, and he probably told her it was lovely.

"Strategically, it is terrible. She flips between authentic feminist, glossy royal adjacent icon and influencer lifestyle entrepreneur, and none of it connects.

"Yes, she absolutely contradicts herself. She keeps saying she wants distance from the royal worl,d and then she recreates the most iconic imagery of it."