Meghan Markle has made a significant change — she’s no longer using her maiden name.
In an unexpected turn, the Duchess of Sussex has chosen to go by “Sussex,” aligning herself with her husband, Prince Harry, and their children, Archie and Lilibet.
A fresh identity.
Meghan Markle’s upcoming Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, is creating quite a buzz, not only for its lifestyle insights but also for sparking conversations about royal names and branding. The Duchess of Sussex caught attention during the show when she announced that “Sussex” is now her surname. But does this shift from tradition challenge the norms of royalty?
The conversation began when Meghan corrected Mindy Kaling on her new show, With Love, Meghan, after Kaling referred to her by her maiden name. “It’s amusing that you keep saying Markle,” Meghan remarked.
“You know it’s Sussex now. As a parent, I want to share my name with my children. I didn’t realize how significant it would be to me, but it truly means a lot to say this is our family name. This is our little family now.”
Meghan expressed a similar feeling during a recent interview with People.
When she and Harry tied the knot, they were bestowed the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex by the late Queen Elizabeth II. As noted on the Royal Family’s official website, their children are titled Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
Meghan shared, “It’s our family name, and I didn’t fully appreciate how significant that would become for me until we had kids. I cherish that Archie, Lili, H, and I all share this name. It holds great meaning for me.”
She referred to the Sussex name as “an integral part of our love story.”
So far, Meghan has opted to use “Sussex” as her surname in more casual contexts, like during her conversations with Mindy Kaling and on The Drew Barrymore Show. When she appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show on March 6 to discuss her latest projects, Drew Barrymore introduced her as “Meghan Sussex.”
“This is the Fast Five with Meghan Sussex,” Barrymore announced as they began the segment.
Why its raising eyebrows.
While the former star of Suits is still officially recognized as the Duchess of Sussex, this was the first occasion she was referred to publicly as “Meghan Sussex.” However, this name change has sparked some backlash from royal enthusiasts. Meghan’s choice to use Sussex as her surname has raised questions, particularly because of her limited connections to the area. Some have even argued that her rightful surname should be “Mountbatten-Windsor.”
One royal admirer commented, “Her name is NOT Meghan Sussex. Technically, her name is Rachel Mountbatten-Windsor. Sussex is just a county in England and part of a courtesy title – it’s not her last name.”
Another fan expressed surprise at how Meghan corrected her friend, stating, “Who criticizes a guest like that? And her last name isn’t Sussex. Shouldn’t it be Mountbatten-Windsor?”
A third commenter pointed out, “The title ‘Duchess of Sussex’ is merely a courtesy she has due to her marriage. It’s not her last name, and I doubt she has ‘Meghan Sussex’ on her California driver’s license. Legally, her surname should be Mountbatten-Windsor.”
Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, voiced his disappointment as well, criticizing her for distancing herself from the Markle name, which he feels would have saddened his late mother.
He remarked, “My mom adored Meghan, but she would be heartbroken to know that Meghan no longer wishes to use the name ‘Markle.’ My mother took pride in being a Markle, and so do I.”
Thomas also expressed concerns about Meghan’s portrayal on the show, suggesting that she came across as insincere and overly focused on appearing perfect.
The couple has been estranged since 2018, following Thomas’s absence from Meghan’s wedding. While some people sympathize with Thomas, others think that his frequent media appearances might be the reason Meghan keeps her distance.
A challenge of royal conventions?
There’s nothing wrong with Meghan choosing to go by “Meghan Sussex.”
In fact, several members of the royal family incorporate their titles into their surnames. As noted by Debrett’s, “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex can, and do, use ‘Sussex’ as their surname.” This practice aligns with tradition, as Prince Harry used ‘Wales’ as his surname during his military service, highlighting his identity as the son of the Prince of Wales. Now that he holds the title of Duke of Sussex, his wife and children are also permitted to adopt ‘Sussex’ as their surname.
Considering the media’s ongoing reference to her maiden name, as highlighted in her feature in People, it seems likely that Meghan will continue to be known as Meghan Markle for the time being.
Meghan’s choice to use “Sussex” as her last name has sparked quite a bit of discussion. While some people support her decision, others feel it might be excessive since her connection to the area isn’t particularly strong.
And we can’t overlook the ongoing “Mountbatten-Windsor” conversation – there’s always something to keep things interesting, right? What are your thoughts on this?
