Meghan Markle has made a striking personal shift — she’s no longer going by the name “Markle.”
In a move that has sparked widespread discussion, the Duchess of Sussex has revealed that she now uses “Sussex” as her last name, aligning herself with her husband, Prince Harry, and their children, Archie and Lilibet.
A new name, renewed attention
Meghan’s latest Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, has been generating buzz not only for its lifestyle-focused content but also for reigniting conversations around royal names and traditions. During the show, Meghan surprised viewers by sharing that “Sussex” is now her family surname — a revelation that immediately raised eyebrows.
The moment unfolded when Meghan gently corrected her friend Mindy Kaling, who referred to her by her maiden name.
“It’s so funny you keep saying Markle,” Meghan said. “You know it’s Sussex now. You have kids and you go, I share my name with my children. I didn’t know how meaningful it would be to me, but it just means so much to go, this is our family name. Our little family now.”
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She echoed those sentiments in a recent interview with People, explaining that the shared name holds deep emotional value.
Prince Harry and Meghan were granted the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex by Queen Elizabeth II upon their marriage in 2018. Their children now hold the titles Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex, according to the Royal Family’s official website.
“It’s our shared name as a family,” Meghan said. “I hadn’t recognized how meaningful that would be to me until we had children. I love that it’s something that Archie, Lili, H, and I all have together. It means a lot to me.”
She even described the name “Sussex” as “a part of our love story.”
Public use — and public reaction
So far, Meghan appears to be using “Sussex” primarily in informal or public-facing settings. She referred to herself that way on With Love, Meghan and during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show on March 6, where Drew Barrymore introduced her as “Meghan Sussex.”
“This is the Fast Five with Meghan Sussex,” Barrymore said as the segment began.
While Meghan remains formally styled as the Duchess of Sussex, this marked the first time she was publicly addressed by “Sussex” as a surname — and not everyone was on board.
Why the name change is controversial
Some royal watchers questioned Meghan’s choice, arguing that “Sussex” is a title linked to a county rather than a legal surname. Critics pointed out that, traditionally, her last name would be Mountbatten-Windsor.
One commenter wrote, “Her name is NOT Meghan Sussex. Her name is technically Rachel Mountbatten-Windsor. Sussex is a county in England and part of a courtesy title — not her last name.”
Another questioned her on-air correction of Mindy Kaling, saying, “So who criticizes a guest like that? And her last name is not Sussex. Wouldn’t it be Mountbatten-Windsor?”
A third added, “‘Duchess of Sussex’ is a courtesy title she holds through marriage. It’s not her surname, and I’m quite sure she doesn’t have ‘Meghan Sussex’ on her California driver’s license.”
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Adding a more personal dimension to the debate, Meghan’s estranged father, Thomas Markle, expressed disappointment over her decision to distance herself from the Markle name.
“My mum loved Meghan very much,” he said, “and she would be so disappointed to hear that Meghan no longer wants to use the name ‘Markle.’ My mother was proud to be a Markle. So am I.”
He also criticized Meghan’s appearance on the show, claiming she came across as inauthentic and overly focused on perfection. Meghan and her father have been estranged since 2018, after he missed her wedding, a situation that continues to divide public opinion.
A break from tradition — or well within it?
Despite the criticism, royal experts note that Meghan’s choice is not without precedent. According to Debrett’s, members of the royal family often use their titles as surnames.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex can, and do, use ‘Sussex’ as their surname,” Debrett’s explains. “This follows the same tradition as when Prince Harry used ‘Wales’ as his surname during his military service, reflecting his father’s title at the time.”
Now that Harry is the Duke of Sussex, his wife and children are equally entitled to use the name.
Still, given the media’s longstanding use of her maiden name — including in her recent People feature — it’s likely that “Meghan Markle” will remain the name most commonly used in headlines for the foreseeable future.
Meghan’s decision to embrace “Sussex” has certainly reignited debate, blending questions of tradition, identity, and personal choice. Some see it as a meaningful expression of family unity, while others view it as unnecessary or controversial.
And, of course, the Mountbatten-Windsor debate continues to simmer — because when it comes to royal names, there’s always something to talk about. What do you think?
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