Journalist Kaitlyn Greenidge wrote that when she entered the New York home where the interview took place, the house manager announced, “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex,” even though Meghan and the reporter appeared to be the only people present.

The detail quickly sparked commentary from royal critics, including US-based royal watcher Kinsey Schofield. On her YouTube channel, Schofield mocked the article’s tone and argued that Meghan’s team should have pushed to remove that moment from the story. She claimed it made both Meghan and the writer look foolish and insisted that the interview’s tone was overly deferential.

However, etiquette expert Myka Meier has defended the introduction. Speaking to US Weekly, Meier explained that it is neither improper nor unusual for someone with a British title to be addressed by that title in social or professional settings outside the UK. She noted that Meghan is widely known as the Duchess of Sussex, which makes the usage appropriate.

Meier added that each member of the royal family chooses how they wish to be addressed. In Meghan’s case, her formal title would be the standard way for her staff to introduce her. She described the matter as a personal preference rather than a breach of etiquette.