An insider has revealed the real reason why Meghan Markle used her HRH title while sending a gift to one of her friends. The Duchess of Sussex sparked controversy this week after she appeared in a podcast interview where an image was shared by the host and Meghan's friend, Jamie Kern Lima, showing a gift basket from last year with a monogrammed card reading: "With Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex".

The move raised eyebrows as it appeared the Duchess was still using her HRH title, five years after quitting the Firm. As part of their Megxit negotiations with Buckingham Palace, Meghan and Prince Harry agreed to stop using Her Royal Highness and His Royal Highness at the end of March 2020.

They still retain the styles, with Harry having had his since birth, but they are essentially held in abeyance, as is the case for the Duke of York, who also no longer uses his HRH style.

On Monday, the Duchess's representative denied that the couple used them, but a source for the couple said on Tuesday that the Sussexes did not use HRH publicly but retained the style, and did not use it for commercial purposes.

The source said that Meghan used her HRH style privately but not for commercial purposes, describing the basket as a "personal gift". They said: "While they do not publicly use 'HRH,' this was a personal gift, and their titles remain."

In January 2020, the late Queen issued a statement after Harry and Meghan announced they wanted to step down as senior royals, saying that "together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family".

Buckingham Palace said in a statement at the time: "The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the royal family."

Meanwhile, in a statement published on Harry and Meghan's former Sussex website about their transition to non-working royals, it read: "As agreed and set out in January, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will retain their 'HRH' prefix, thereby formally remaining known as His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex.

"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will no longer actively use their HRH titles as they will no longer be working members of the family as of Spring 2020."

Buckingham Palace has declined to comment.