Meghan Markle has recently been slammed for using her royal title the Duchess of Sussex to cold-call call US politicians to discuss support for an equal paid leave policy. Earlier this week, Senator Susan Collins, a moderate Republican, received a call on her private line from the Duchess. Ms Collins stated: "Much to my surprise, she called me on my private line and she introduced herself as the Duchess of Sussex, which is kind of ironic."

       "I was happy to talk with her, but I’m more interested in what the people of Maine are telling me about it," Collins added

       Royal expert Angela Levin claimed that Meghan Markle however should continue to follow protocol despite having stepped down from her position as a working royal as she remains a senior member of the Royal Family.

       Speaking to GB News, Ms Levin said: "I think there's a certain thing called good manners.

       "If you are a member of the Royal Family - she's no longer a working member - but as you said, she uses a title all the time."

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       "Endlessly, never without a title; on books, before she speaks, talking to children.

       "So in that way, you should actually behave properly. The right way of doing it is to get your secretary to ring their secretary and then you arrange to meet."

       She continued: "The fact that you couldn't know her identity before you answered the phone was, I think, part of her ploy. What was she hiding?

       "She knew that they would answer because they'd imagine it would be somebody senior who wanted to talk to them."

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       Meghan has also recently been criticised over her decision to immediately introduce herself as the Duchess of Sussex before reading a book to children.

       The Duchess appeared in a new video on YouTube to read her children's book The Bench.

       Under the terms agreed upon their departure from Royal Family work, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle agreed to drop their HRH style and not to use their titles when working.

       Users of social media hit out at the Duchess, claiming "kids don't care" about royal titles.

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       The Queen presented Prince Harry and Meghan with their titles as a wedding present in May 2018.

       The pair have repeatedly faced demands for the Queen to strip them of their titles as they no longer work on her behalf.

       However, rules around the removal of titles granted by the Crown are strict and usually only apply in the case of treason or criminal convictions.

       The regulation was first introduced during the First World War, during which some British titleholders fought in the German Army against the UK.