In a surprising turn, the Duchess of Sussex has adopted “Sussex” as her new last name, aligning herself with her husband, Prince Harry, and their children, Archie and Lilibet.
A New Identity
Meghan’s latest Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, has sparked fresh discussions—not just about lifestyle topics but also about royal naming conventions. During the show, Meghan corrected Mindy Kaling when she referred to her as “Markle.”
“It’s so funny you keep saying Markle,” Meghan told Kaling. “You know it’s Sussex now. When you have kids, you want to share a name with them. I didn’t realize how meaningful that would be until I had children, but now, it means so much. This is our family name.”
She echoed these sentiments in a recent interview with People, emphasizing how “Sussex” represents a deep bond between her, Harry, and their children.
“It’s our shared name as a family, and I hadn’t realized how much that would mean to me until Archie and Lili were born. I love that it’s something we all have together.”
Meghan even described the Sussex name as “a part of our love story.”
Public Reaction and Controversy
Meghan has started using “Sussex” informally, including during a recent appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, where she was introduced as “Meghan Sussex.” However, not everyone is on board with the name change.
Some royal fans argue that “Sussex” is a courtesy title rather than a surname and that, technically, Meghan’s legal last name should be Mountbatten-Windsor.
One critic remarked:
“Her name is NOT Meghan Sussex. Sussex is a county in England, not a last name. Her legal surname is Mountbatten-Windsor.”
Another questioned her correction of Mindy Kaling:
“Who corrects a guest like that? And since when is Sussex a last name?”
Even Meghan’s estranged father, Thomas Markle, weighed in, expressing disappointment over her apparent rejection of the Markle name.
“My mother was proud to be a Markle, and so am I. She would be heartbroken to hear Meghan no longer wants to use our family name.”
Breaking Royal Tradition?
While the debate rages on, Meghan’s decision isn’t entirely without precedent. Many royals have used their titles as surnames—Prince Harry himself was known as Harry Wales during his military service, a reference to his father’s title at the time.
According to royal etiquette experts, the Sussex family is entitled to use “Sussex” as their surname. However, the media and the public will likely continue referring to Meghan as Markle for the foreseeable future.
So, is Meghan simply embracing a family identity, or is this another break from royal tradition? As always, opinions remain divided. What do you think?
