Meghan Markle says she has changed her famous last name

A new name

Meghan Markle’s Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, has drawn attention not only for its lifestyle content but also for reigniting debate around royal names and personal branding. During the show, the Duchess revealed that “Sussex” is now her surname, a choice that has prompted questions about royal tradition and protocol.

The moment came when Meghan corrected 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.”

Meghan echoed this sentiment in a recent interview with People. She and Harry were given the titles Duke and Duchess of Sussex by Queen Elizabeth II upon their marriage, and according to the Royal Family’s official website, their children are titled Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.

“It’s our shared name as a family, and I guess I hadn’t recognized how meaningful that would be to me until we had children,” Meghan explained. “I love that that is something that Archie, Lili, H, and I all have together. It means a lot to me.”

She also described the Sussex name as “a part of our love story.”

So far, Meghan appears to be using “Sussex” mainly in informal or media settings. Alongside her exchange with Mindy Kaling, the name came up again on The Drew Barrymore Show. When Meghan appeared on the program on March 6, Barrymore introduced her as “Meghan Sussex.”

“This is the Fast Five with Meghan Sussex,” Barrymore said as the segment began.

Why its raising eyebrows

Although Meghan is still formally the Duchess of Sussex, this marked the first public occasion where she was addressed as “Meghan Sussex.” The choice has drawn criticism from some royal watchers, particularly those who argue she has limited personal ties to the English county. Others insist her legal surname should be “Mountbatten-Windsor.”

One royal fan commented, “Her name is NOT Meghan Sussex. Her name is technically Rachel Mountbatten-Windsor. Sussex is a county in England & part of a courtesy title – NOT her last name.”

Another added, “So who criticizes a guest like that? And her last name is not Sussex. Wouldn’t it be Mountbatten-Windsor?”