Meghan Markle Faces Backlash for Using Royal Title in US Political Lobbying

Former UK royal Meghan Markle has come under fire for using her royal title while cold calling US senators to lobby for federal paid parental leave as part of President Biden's $3.5 trillion spending bill.

The move has angered GOP lawmakers who were taken aback by the calls and called it further proof that Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, have become an “insufferable pair.”

Senator Shelley Moore Capito, RWV, was one of the senators who received a call from Markle, which she assumed to be from Democratic holdout Senator Joe Manchin.

Senator Susan Collins, Republican Maine, also received a call from Prince Harry's wife, who famously turned her back on the royals and accused them of racism in a bombshell TV sit-down.

The use of her duchess title quickly sparked outrage among some politicians and voters alike.

A political pundit called it further proof that Markle and Harry have become an insufferable pair, while another British commentator said it was finally time for the government to remove the use of their titles.

Proud Royal Watcher Brittany Gadhuri stressed that Meghan Markle, the American citizen, can call senators all day long, but Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, has no place meddling in US politics.

The use of her title to influence policy in America is wrong, she tweeted.

Others mocked Markle for using the title after her husband, who, like his wife, was forced to stop using HRH after Megxit, had claimed he was going to have a low-key presence as a regular citizen.

The just-call-me-Harry moment didn't last long, did it?

Republican Jason Smith said Markle ought to go by her US household title the next time she decides to wade into US politics by cold calling members of Congress.

The congressman from Missouri said that while he has no issues with her getting involved in American politics, she needs to leave her ties to the royal family out of it.

Senators Capito and Collins were not expecting their calls from Markle over the parental leave pay that she is pushing for.

However, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, confirmed that she gave the Duchess senators' numbers, claiming she has been warning her colleagues to expect calls.

Markle previously called on Congress to pass the federal paid parental leave program in an open letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY.

The move has raised questions about the appropriateness of using royal titles for political lobbying, with some calling for the removal of their titles altogether.

Others have criticized Markle for using her celebrity status to influence policy, arguing that she should stick to using her former job title as an actress.

The controversy highlights the challenges faced by public figures who attempt to use their status to influence public policy.

While some argue that celebrities have a right to speak out on issues they care about, others believe that they should stay out of politics altogether.

As the debate continues, Markle's use of her royal title in political lobbying is likely to remain a contentious issue, with both supporters and critics weighing in on the appropriateness of her actions.