Reason why Meghan Markle can use HRH title - despite Sandringham Agreement

has been embroiled in controversy this week after using in a gift basket that she once sent to a friend. It comes after her and had agreed not to use the title when they stepped back from royal duties.

Meghan, 43, and Prince Harry, 40, announced that they would be of the in January 2020. Just days later, some of the family attended the so-called , which is said to have involved discussions about the future. It was later announced that the couple would retain their Her Royal Highness and His Royal Highness - abbreviated to HRH - titles respectively. However, it was stated that an agreement meant that they would not "actively" use them.

In a statement on their website, the couple said at the time that they would "retain" their HRH titles. Prince Harry and Meghan however stated that they would no longer "actively" use such titles amid the change in their roles.

Their statement 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 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."

A statement from at the time read similarly: "The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family. [...] This new model will take effect in the Spring of 2020."

There has been controversy this week though over the news that Meghan used HRH on a note that was part of a hamper gifted to podcast host Jamie Kern Lima. The note read: "With the compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex."

Her pal Jamie shared a photo of the hamper, including the note, on an episode of her podcast the Jamie Kern Lima Show that featured Meghan as a guest. She also spoke about the gift in the episode, which was released yesterday.

Jamie said that the hamper from Meghan had included ice cream and homemade jam sauce. She said that the hamper had been given to her some time ago during a challenging time to "see if that helps lighten [her] load".

It's been reported that it was sent to Jamie over a year ago. In a teaser for the podcast, in which Meghan discusses her new As Ever brand, Jamie states: "I have had your jam in my refrigerator all year." And a source suggested to recently that the photo shared by Jamie was taken before Meghan launched As Ever last month.

As previously reported, a spokesperson for the Sussexes has however since .

It's been reported that, although there was an apparent agreement over the future, no laws were officially passed during the Sandringham Summit. It's also been reported that while Meghan and Prince Harry do not publicly use HRH, they still have the titles and the hamper is said to have been a personal gift to Jamie. The photo suggests that Meghan uses HRH with friends and in personal correspondence.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on , , , , , and .

READ MORE: