“Meghan Markle’s Interview Turns Heads—And So Does Her Gift Basket”

Meghan Markle’s New Podcast Interview Sparks Controversy over Her Gift Basket for the Host – Details

A simple gift basket to soothe a friend has become yet another controversy to dog the Duchess of Sussex, over the title card it bore she had reportedly agreed to formally stop using.

For instance, a negative outcome surrounded the appearance of Meghan Markle on “The Jamie Kern Lima Show podcast” which launched on April 28, 2025. In the episode, founder of IT Cosmetics, Jamie Kern Lima, recounted a time when Meghan was nice to her and how it helped to get through a difficult time.

“It was like as you were there in my shoes and you were feeling what I felt, not even saying anything,” Lima recalled. “You just gave me this gift basket of ice creams, homemade strawberry sauce to put on top of it, all of the sudden.” The gesture,

she said, had the unexpected value of lending hand and emotional support when she needed it most.

An image of the basket of Straus Family Creamery ice cream, handmade strawberry sauce from the Duchess, and an accompanying card with a crown emblem and message ‘With the compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex’ appeared on screen as she spoke.

The card caused an uproar among people online. Meghan’s use of the HRH (Her Royal Highness) styling, much used by the Queen but something she and Prince Harry reportedly agreed not to use following their exit from royal duties, also caused viewers to raise their eyebrows.

“Royal title is WRONG!” one netizen commented in part. And another said of it: ‘It’s such a slap in the face for the late queen because she told them they were not allowed to use HRH anymore.’

”This is something that will go against the wishes of Queen Elizabeth II and I think highly frowned upon.”. Unable to use HRH or not to profit from Royal name. Our last Queens wishes [sic].”

Fourth person typed: I thought they couldn’t use HRH??? A fifth tacked on: ‘The woman is completely uncouth …she is blatantly disrespectful.’ Other critics claimed that Meghan did not show enough respect for the institution of the monarchy whilst giving priority to her royal title.

And some wondered why a gift to a personal friend would be designated with the HRH title, which Meghan is rumoured not to be able to use anymore. In addition, the said gesture was called out more then it was suggested it was inappropriate and behaved self impressive.

Both Prince Harry and Meghan later in his comment pointed that both were no longer authorized to use the HRH styling and argued that the couple should be made answerable for continuing to use it publically.

However, several voices on the internet claimed that by using the HRH title Duchess of Sussex was defying the late Queen’s Sandringham agreement and accused Buckingham Palace to step in to prevent further misuse.

It sparked a backlash which raised again the terms under which the royal couple stepped back from royal life.

However, it was not until February 19, 2021 that the Palace helped confirm the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, would not be returning as working members of the Royal Family.

A statement at the time said: “The Queen has written to confirm this step, reported in part that, following conversations with The Duke,

it is not possible for The Queen to continue with the responsibilities and duties which come with the role as head of the Commonwealth and the symbols of her Royal office – in the light of public commentary, it is her sincere wish that The Duke should be free to lead a life of public service from the start of his marriage.

“The Duke and Duchess’ Honorary Military appointments and Royal patronages will therefore return to Her Majesty and be shared amongst working members of The Royal Family.” The statement continued: ‘All of them are sad that they are now making this decision, although the Duke and Duchess are much loved members of the family.’

Some of the honorary military roles and patronages the Royal Marines, RAF Honington, Royal Navy Small Ships and Diving, and critical charitable and Commonwealth associations that the Duke of Sussex,

Prince Harry, would be returning to were confirmed after a year long review following his departure from royal duties.

On January 18, 2020, earlier the Palace had also said, while they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made it clear that everything they do will perpetuate the values of Her Majesty.

As they now no longer work for the Royal Family, the Sussexes will not use HRH titles, Buckingham Palace said.”

But a representative for the Sussexes added that: ‘Harry and Meghan retain their HRH titles, but they do not use them for commercial purposes.’ They do use HRH publicly, but this was a personal gift and their titles remain.”

It is about the delicate balance that the couple still maintains between personal identity and public perception. During her podcast appearance, Meghan, who remains as relevant as ever beyond the titles and scrutiny, also gifted with a rare and intimate glimpse into the world that she and Prince Harry created since stepping away from royal duties.

Speaking about a recent public comment the Duke made, Lima highlighted how “happy” he was for her and that “he fully supports absolutely everything” his wife did.

And so Meghan nodded when it first came out to those words, saying that Harry is a ‘great partner,’ and actually how she felt every day that he’s around.

“I helped raise those two children and that man loves me so much that I can describe him as a hero from a video game,” she said.

“We’ve never lived anywhere where I felt I could be invisible, and I didn’t want him to be normal, you know, in that you let one person get your life away from you,

or something happens during the work day and you don’t have time with your loved ones,” he said. “He’s just going to do whatever he can to make sure that our family is safe and protected and we’re uplifted — and still make time for date nights.”

They were saying that their relationship had entered a new phase: more grounded, more peaceful, more mutual admiration. She said that their earliest days together were filled with intense public pressure, and now it feels like a ‘honeymoon period’ for us.

What the podcast provided was a rare glimpse into a life away from palace walls — a life characterized by intentionality and emotional partnership with a mind for family.

She did also discuss how she supports Prince Harry in his work including the Invictus Games.

Being a ‘soundboard’ for him, based in love, bias.free and free to help him make his decisions from a place of clarity and balance, is good said.

She told her that she was only looking at it through the lens of loving him. “So what will help him find balance nurture him?”

The focus has shifted for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. No less the spotlight but they have rejianzed it; on themselves, their children, their life outside the crystal structure of royalism.