Meghan Markle has made a surprising change — she’s no longer Meghan Markle.
In a surprising move, the Duchess of Sussex has chosen “Sussex” as her new last name, aligning with her husband, Prince Harry, and their children, Archie and Lilibet.
A New Identity Meghan Markle’s new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, has been causing a stir, not just for its lifestyle content but also for sparking debates around royal names and branding. During the show, the Duchess revealed that “Sussex” is now her surname, raising questions about whether this breaks from royal tradition.
The conversation started when Meghan corrected Mindy Kaling on With Love, Meghan, after Kaling referred to her by her maiden name. Meghan commented, “It’s funny you keep saying Markle. You know it’s Sussex now. You have kids, and you share your name with them. I didn’t realize how meaningful it would be, but it really means a lot to say, ‘This is our family name.’”
In a recent interview with People, Meghan shared similar thoughts.
When Meghan and Harry married, Queen Elizabeth II gave them the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their children, Archie and Lilibet, are titled Prince and Princess of Sussex. Meghan explained, “It’s our shared name as a family. I hadn’t realized how much it would mean to me until we had children. I love that this is something we all share. It’s very special to me.”
Meghan described the name “Sussex” as “a part of our love story.”
The Public Reception Meghan seems to use “Sussex” informally, such as when speaking with Mindy Kaling and during her appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show. On March 6, Drew introduced her as “Meghan Sussex,” marking the first public instance of this name.
The Reaction Although Meghan is still officially the Duchess of Sussex, this marked the first time she was referred to as “Meghan Sussex” in public. The decision has sparked some criticism, with royal fans questioning whether it’s appropriate given her minimal ties to Sussex, with some suggesting that “Mountbatten-Windsor” would be more fitting.
One commenter said, “Her name is NOT Meghan Sussex. It’s technically Rachel Mountbatten-Windsor. Sussex is a courtesy title, not her surname.”
Another fan was taken aback by Meghan’s correction, asking, “Who criticizes a guest like that? Her last name isn’t Sussex, it should be Mountbatten-Windsor.”
A third person remarked, “‘Duchess of Sussex’ is a courtesy title, not her surname. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t have ‘Meghan Sussex’ on her driver’s license. Legally, her last name should be Mountbatten-Windsor.”
Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, also expressed his disappointment, saying that his late mother would have been upset to hear Meghan no longer wanted to use the “Markle” name. He added, “My mother loved Meghan very much, but she would be disappointed to hear Meghan no longer wants to use the name Markle.”
Royal Precedents While Meghan’s decision to adopt “Sussex” isn’t a break from tradition, it has raised eyebrows. According to Debrett’s, members of the royal family often use their titles as surnames. For example, when Prince Harry served in the army, he used “Wales” as his surname due to his status as the son of the Prince of Wales. Now that he’s the Duke of Sussex, Meghan and their children are entitled to use “Sussex” as their surname.
Given that the media still frequently uses her maiden name, Meghan will likely continue to be known as Meghan Markle for the time being.
Meghan’s choice to use “Sussex” as her last name has certainly sparked conversation, with some fully supportive, while others find it a bit too much given her limited connection to the region. And, of course, the “Mountbatten-Windsor” debate remains ongoing. What are your thoughts on this change?