Royal commentators are increasingly drawing parallels between Meghan Markle and Sarah Ferguson, reviving debate over how the British monarchy handles former working royals who remain globally visible long after stepping back from official duties.
The renewed comparisons come as Markle continues to expand her media presence five years after she and Prince Harry withdrew from frontline royal roles in January 2020. Analysts say the similarities with Ferguson's post-palace life highlight unresolved tensions between royal protocol, personal reinvention and the enduring commercial value of royal identity.
Ferguson's trajectory has long served as a reference point for royal watchers. After her 1996 divorce from Prince Andrew ended her role as a working royal, she faced intense tabloid scrutiny, financial strain and questions over how a former duchess should conduct herself outside the institution. Despite lacking any official function, she remained publicly identified by her title, a dynamic that continues to inform current debates.
In the years that followed, Ferguson pursued media ventures, including reality television projects and publishing deals, as a means of financial recovery and narrative control. Supporters viewed those efforts as pragmatic reinvention, while critics argued they clashed with the monarchy's expectation of discretion from those once inside its ranks.
Markle's post-royal path has unfolded under far greater global scrutiny. Since relocating to California, she and Prince Harry have pursued commercial partnerships and media projects, most notably through Netflix, alongside lifestyle and publishing initiatives. Buckingham Palace confirmed in 2020 that the couple would no longer use their HRH styling for commercial purposes, though their titles were not formally removed.
The handling of titles has become a central point of comparison. Royal historians note that the monarchy has historically relied on informal constraints rather than legal mechanisms to enforce boundaries. That approach was underscored after the couple's 2021 interview, when Queen Elizabeth II issued a carefully worded statement acknowledging differing accounts and noting that "recollections may vary."
Media strategy represents another shared thread. Ferguson turned to television and memoirs to shape her post-royal narrative, while Markle has embraced long-form interviews and documentary storytelling, including a widely viewed appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, which prompted a rare public response from the palace.
Neither woman has been formally exiled from the royal family, nor stripped of her title. Instead, analysts describe a form of informal royal exile defined by distance from official duties, limited institutional support and persistent public debate over how far former royals should leverage their status.
