Overview
- Jane Percy told The Telegraph she publishes under the pen name Jane Northumberland and avoids using her ducal title.
- She said using titles can be “detrimental” because “one or two duchesses haven’t really helped the cause lately,” a line widely read as a veiled critique.
- National outlets interpreted the remark as aimed at Meghan Markle, who left senior royal duties in 2020 and has since given high‑profile interviews, and Sarah Ferguson, who recently stopped using the Duchess of York styling after her ex‑husband relinquished his title.
- Percy emphasized that her work and public projects at Alnwick, including major garden attractions, are the result of sustained effort rather than status.
- There were no reported responses from Meghan or Ferguson, as coverage focused on the media’s reading of Percy’s Telegraph interview.