Meghan Markle’s Bold Name Change
A Surprising Shift
Meghan Markle has made a striking change—she’s no longer using her maiden name. Instead, she has adopted “Sussex” as her last name, aligning with her husband, Prince Harry, and their children, Archie and Lilibet.
A New Identity
During her Netflix series With Love, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex sparked conversations about royal names and branding. Viewers were surprised when she corrected Mindy Kaling, who referred to her as “Markle.”
“It’s so funny you keep saying Markle,” Meghan said. “You know it’s Sussex now. Once you have kids, you realize how much it means to share a family name.”
Family Ties
Meghan echoed this sentiment in a recent People interview. She and Harry received their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles from Queen Elizabeth II when they married. Their children, according to the Royal Family’s official website, hold the titles of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
“It’s our shared name as a family,” Meghan explained. “I hadn’t realized how meaningful it would be until we had children. Archie, Lili, H, and I all have it together, and that means a lot.”
She even described the name Sussex as “a part of our love story.”
Public Recognition
So far, Meghan has used “Sussex” informally. On The Drew Barrymore Show, the host introduced her as “Meghan Sussex,” marking the first time she was publicly addressed that way.
“This is the Fast Five with Meghan Sussex,” Barrymore said, launching the segment.
Stirring Debate
Although she remains formally known as the Duchess of Sussex, the name change hasn’t gone unnoticed. Some royal fans question her decision, given her limited connection to Sussex.
One critic argued, “Her name is NOT Meghan Sussex. Technically, it’s Rachel Mountbatten-Windsor. Sussex is a county, not a surname.”
Another questioned her correction of Kaling: “Who does that to a guest? And her last name isn’t Sussex—shouldn’t it be Mountbatten-Windsor?”
Family Backlash
Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, also voiced disappointment. He believes abandoning the Markle name would upset his late mother.
“My mum loved Meghan, but she would be so disappointed to hear she no longer wants to be a Markle. Our family took pride in that name.”
He also criticized her Netflix appearance, calling her presentation inauthentic and overly polished.
The father-daughter relationship has been strained since 2018, when Thomas missed Meghan’s wedding. While some support his stance, others argue that his frequent media presence is why Meghan keeps her distance.
A Royal Precedent?
Meghan isn’t breaking any rules. Many royals use their titles as surnames. According to Debrett’s, “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex can, and do, use ‘Sussex’ as their surname. Prince Harry once used ‘Wales’ while serving in the army, following royal tradition.”
Since media outlets still refer to her as Meghan Markle—like in her People feature—it’s likely that both names will continue to circulate.
The Ongoing Debate
Meghan’s decision has certainly sparked discussion. Some support the change, while others question its validity due to her weak ties to Sussex.
And then there’s the ongoing “Mountbatten-Windsor” debate—just another royal controversy to keep the conversation going. What do you think?
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