Meghan Markle has been urged to forget her royal title and focus on her acting profile after her recent Nottingham visit with Prince Harry, with brand expert Nick Ede suggesting the Duchess of Sussex has an opportunity to rebuild her public image in Britain without relying on her royal connections.
The comments came after the couple returned to Nottingham for a series of public engagements, where they received a warm welcome from supporters and revisited a city they first visited shortly after their engagement in 2017.
Their latest appearance attracted renewed attention to Meghan’s position as a former working royal who continues to use her Duchess of Sussex title while pursuing independent business and entertainment projects.
Ede believes the reception in Nottingham demonstrated that Meghan can attract public interest in her own right, without needing the backing of the Palace.
Speaking about the Duchess’s prospects, he suggested the UK visit could mark the beginning of a different chapter in her public life.
“Meghan has an opportunity to reclaim her place in Britain without needing the Palace,” Ede said.
He added that she had changed since arriving in the UK in 2017 and could build on that evolution if she approached her public image carefully.
Ede also compared the Nottingham appearance with Meghan’s earlier photo opportunity with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, which he described as appearing “very contrived”.
The brand expert argued that Meghan’s celebrity profile could offer a clearer direction for her future projects than an emphasis on her royal identity.
“She is a Hollywood celebrity, and she needs to play more into that and forget her title,” he said.
His advice places the focus on how Meghan presents herself professionally, particularly as she develops her lifestyle brand, As Ever, and explores opportunities in entertainment.
The Duchess has continued to use her royal title since she and Harry stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020. They retain their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles but no longer undertake official duties on behalf of the Crown.
Meghan’s public appearances and commercial ventures have therefore continued to prompt debate about the relationship between her royal status and her independent career.
Some critics argue that the Sussexes benefit from their royal connections, while supporters see their titles as part of their family identities and personal histories.
However, Ede’s comments represent his professional opinion rather than an official assessment of Meghan’s plans or priorities.
There is no indication that the Duchess intends to stop using her title, and her warm reception in Nottingham does not establish that she plans to change how she presents herself publicly.
For now, the expert’s advice has added another dimension to the discussion surrounding Meghan’s return to Britain, raising questions about whether her future public image will lean more heavily towards Hollywood, her business interests or her continuing identity as the Duchess of Sussex.
