A Republican senator has mocked Meghan Markle after the Duchess of Sussex cold-called her and pushed her to include paid parental leave in a Bill by the US Government.
The mother-of-two called senators Susan Collins and Shelley Moore Capito on a withheld number, and when they picked up the phone the former senior royal said: “This is Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.”
Meghan’s intervention has prompted more calls for her to be stripped of her title as she tries to involve herself in politics, breaching Buckingham Palace protocol.
When Meghan and her husband Prince Harry announced that they would step down from their royal duties, they said in a statement that they would “continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty.”
Speaking about the call, Senator for Maine Collins recalled: “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.”
Senator Capito said she was in the car when she received a call.
“I’m in my car. I’m driving. It says ‘caller ID blocked.’ I thought it was Senator (Joe) Manchin. His calls come in blocked. And she goes, ‘Senator Capito?’ I said, ‘Yes?’
“She said, ‘This is Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.’”
Both senators said the Duchess of Sussex tried to push for them to include the policy to ensure Americans received paid leave after having a baby.
According to reports, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand gave their phone numbers to Meghan. The Democrat said she had also given Meghan several others.
“I talked to each of the women senators and let them know that she’s going to reach out because she only completed two of the calls,” she said.
“She’s going to call some others, so I let them know in advance.”
One person took to Twitter and wrote: “This is wholly inappropriate and an abuse of her title – which should be stripped.”
Another said: “Meghan Markle announcing herself as Duchess of Sussex called multiple Republican senators lobbying to support a massive social spending bill in US Senate. Royal protocol? She should be stripped of her title if she wants to continue this practice.”
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