
Meghan Markle has once again divided royal watchers after unveiling a new fashion statement that some see as a bold nod to her royal past.
A Controversial Royal-Inspired Accessory
The 44-year-old Duchess of Sussex shared a video montage on Instagram on Thursday, capturing her trip to Washington D.C. for Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit, where she spoke about her business ventures. Set to Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5, the upbeat clip followed Meghan through her hotel arrival, behind-the-scenes moments, and her flight home.
However, what drew the most attention wasn’t the event itself but her accessory—a Longchamp “My Pliage L Travel Bag” worth around $860 AUD, monogrammed with the initials “DS,” standing for Duchess of Sussex. The tote appeared multiple times throughout the video, including one shot where Meghan playfully stuck out her tongue at the camera while the bag rested beside her.

Royal fans were quick to weigh in online. “Please don’t tell me she had a bag made with the initials DS for Duchess of Sussex? Didn’t she say she was recovering from her time in ‘the institution’?” one X user commented. Another added, “Even the real royals don’t do that—this is crass, not classy.” Others accused Meghan of hypocrisy, saying she “can’t let go of the title” despite leaving royal life behind.
Still, some fans defended her choice. “Let her have the monogrammed bag! It’s her title, after all,” one wrote. Another reasoned, “People call her the Duchess of Sussex—why can’t she?”