Meghan Markle has asked fans to address her by a new name, while attending a series of events across Australia with Prince Harry.

It’s no secret the Duchess of Sussex has faced far more than her fair share of scrutiny since her marriage to Prince Harry in 2018.

The former actress has been subject a vitriol of abuse through the media and social media, and despite having firmly moved on from it all, people still seem triggered by every move she makes.

Last week, she spoke publicly about being ‘bullied and attacked’ daily for nearly a decade, describing herself as ‘the most trolled person in the entire world.’

She made the comments during a discussion with young people from the Australian mental health organization Batyr at Melbourne’s Swinburne University of Technology.

Prince Harry, meanwhile, said social media had ‘led to so much loneliness for so many people.’

He went on to tell the young people he had benefitted from getting therapy, but revealed he ‘waited until [he] was literally in the fetal position, much older, lying on the kitchen floor,’ before he sought help.

“Until I was like, okay, maybe this therapy thing – maybe I should try it,” he said.

Meghan and Harry never far away from headlines

Elsewhere during the trip, the Duchess of Sussex made headlines when she appeared on Australia’s MasterChef as a judge.

The harmless appearance has sparked backlash online after reports emerged claiming Meghan was’ frustrated’ by the way she was introduced on the show, though these claims are unsubstantiated.

MasterChef judge Poh Ling Yeow introduced the former Suits star, telling the audience: “We’ve had MasterChef royalty in the kitchen before but no one like this. All the way from sunny California, please welcome to MasterChef Australia, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.”

Reports emerged claiming Meghan had been ‘very frustrated’ having previously specifically requested the word ‘royal’ was not used in relation to her.

Since the reports, however, Yeow has spoken out in defence of Meghan, saying: “There’s so much public conjecture about this. She was so delightful, like nothing but praise for the time that we spent with her.”

She went on to describe Meghan as being ‘very easy going,’ with a ‘good sense of humor’ and ‘a consummate professional.’

Earlier this month, both Meghan and Harry faced yet more criticism when they shared a sweet family photo on Easter.

The photo offered a glimpse into life with six-year-old Archie and four-year-old Lilibet, as they enjoyed Easter egg hunts, feeding their chickens and decorated eggs.

“I thought she wanted privacy? Yet she keeps posting these carefully staged pictures,” one commenter wrote, proving the family can never please everyone.

Another was more blunt: “This is all about Meghan… using them for her own gain. Disgusting.”

Meghan Markle going by a new name

In a world where everything Meghan does appears to upset somebody, the Duchess of Sussex has found herself at the center of more online debate, after she asked fans to call her by a different name.

The couple were recently embarking on a non-royal tour across Australia, visiting the likes of Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.

One stop saw the former senior royals visiting the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, while Meghan also paid a visit to McAuley Community Services for Women, where homeless women and those affected by domestic abuse and receive support.

Elsewhere on the tour, the Sussexes were introduced to Steve Cotterill, the inaugural Australian poet laureate, at the Australian National Veterans’ Art Museum.

When he too asked how he should be addressing the pair, Harry simply said: “However you like.”

Meghan, meanwhile, responded with: “Call me Meg?”

Simple enough, right? Meg is the obvious nickname for a person called Meghan. Yet that hasn’t stopped some critics from accusing her of attempting to appear more relatable.

“Encouraging people to basically ‘Call me Meg’ is being seen by critics as a carefully curated attempt to project approachability,” an insider said, as per The News.

“But it is clashing with a long-established perception of her as a multi-millionaire figure with exacting, and well-known diva standards.”

They continued: “This kind of informality feels staged, particularly given the level of privilege and expectation that surrounds her, and that disconnect is what people are reacting to so strongly.”

Earlier in the day, staff at the children’s hospital had queried how they should address the couple, and an aide said: “Harry and Meghan is fine, they’re pretty relaxed.”