Royal fans have spotted a hidden detail in Meghan Markle’s anniversary post that indicates she’s not yet ready to give up on all elements of royal life. 

The Montecito-based Duchess of Sussex, 43, paid tribute to her husband for giving her a ‘lifetime of stories’ and thanked people who ‘have supported and loved’ herself and Harry, 40, since they wed in 2018. 

She shared a montage of previously unseen pictures marking milestones on Harry and Meghan’s love story that began in 2016. 

The photos included snapshots of the couple’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, on holiday.

But, the Duchess controversially added what appears to be a hand drawing of her royal coat of arms.

Fans have suggested the illustration, which was designed by the Duchess and approved by the late Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, signals her reluctance to relinquish ties to royal life.

Harry was given his coat of arms aged 18, but since Meghan wasn’t yet a royal herself, designed one of her own.

After she and Harry became engaged in November 2017, the former Suits worked closely with the College of Arms to design the coat of arms which aimed to represent her personally and her American roots.

The design was approved by the late Queen, as well as Thomas Woodcock – who was the Garter King of Arms and Senior Herald in England – and revealed by Kensington Palace on 25 May in 2018, one week after her and Prince Harry’s nuptials.  

Traditionally, royals will receive a ‘conjugal coat of arms’ when they tie the knot. But Meghan and Harry’s combined version was never officially revealed by the palace, though, this may have been a result of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s having only been shared two years after they married. 

The blue background of the shield represents the Pacific Ocean off the California coast, while the two golden rays across the shield are symbolic of the sunshine of the Duchess’s home state. The three quills represent communication and the power of words.

The coat of arms also included what is understood to be Meghan’s cipher, or letterhead, featuring the letter ‘M’ with a crown on top.

Beneath the shield on the grass sits a collection of golden poppies, California’s state flower, and wintersweet, which grows at Kensington Palace

The design, which features more detail than the one given to the then-Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, was later combined with Prince Harry’s to create the Sussex Coat of Arms.

Including the Coat of Arms in the post appears a controversial move for Meghan, who’s departure from the royal family, along with her husband Prince Harry, was steeped in conflict and internal struggle.

But it’s not first time Meghan has made reference to her royal since the tension fuelled exit in January 2020.

In February, the couple quietly launched Sussex.com, creating a base for which to provide information on the couple’s charitable work through the Archewell Foundation, creations through Archewell Productions and other appearances.

Filling the homepage are nods to the couple’s time as working royals, including an illustration of Meghan’s coat of arms. 

Beneath a picture of Harry and Meghan at the 2023 Invictus Game closing ceremony, the text read: ‘The office of Prince Harry & Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.’

Some have proffered that the choice to incorporate the drawing in the collage indicates she has no yet let go of royal life, despite her efforts to re-brand externally.

The montage, posted to Meghan’s Instagram page yesterday, featured several snap shots from the couple’s years together.

One image on the pinboard features her pregnancy bump, while another shows the couple’s son, Prince Archie, kissing his sister, Princess Lilibet.

Other scenes show the family on various holidays, painting in the garden of their €13million Montecito mansion – and even Archie in the womb.

Meghan shares intimate family photos of Harry, Archie and Lili as she celebrates wedding anniversary

Meghan’s post was accompanied by the Proclaimers tune I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) and the caption: ‘Seven years of marriage. A lifetime of stories.

‘Thanks to all of you (whether by our side, or from afar) who have loved and supported us throughout our love story – we appreciate you. Happy anniversary!’

Meghan often used to make montages when she was working as an actress and running a lifestyle blog.

Her latest one charts the couple’s relationship from when they met on a blind date in London in 2016 – where they took a candid selfie – their second date on a trip to Botswana spotting elephants, and a trip the following year to see the Northern Lights in Norway.

It then moves to the couple’s engagement and wedding – including, controversially, given the couple’s acrimonious departure from the royal family, a drawing of Meghan’s coat of arms.

Several private family images include a sonogram of Archie in the womb, and Harry gazing down at him after his birth in May 2019.

Others show them on the beach at Norfolk with their dogs, smiling over a birthday cake, and on trips as working royals including in Morocco.

The action then moves to their present-day life in California.

Several notes are written on the board in Meghan’s distinctive cursive script, including the lyrics to Ben E King’s Stand By Me, which was played at their wedding.

Another pinned note says ‘love wins’ – a phrase the pair have often used about their relationship to signify their battles against their perceived enemies.

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