A third wrote, “‘Duchess of Sussex’ is a courtesy title she holds only through her marriage. It is not her surname, and I’m quite sure she doesn’t have ‘Meghan Sussex’ on her California driver’s license. Legally, her last name should be Mountbatten-Windsor.”
Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, also voiced his disappointment, saying her move away from the Markle name would have upset his late mother.
“My mum loved Meghan very much but she would be so disappointed to hear that Meghan no longer wants to use the name ‘Markle,’” he said. “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, following his absence from her wedding. While some sympathize with Thomas, others believe his frequent media commentary has contributed to the rift.
A challenge of royal conventions?
In practice, Meghan’s use of “Meghan Sussex” does not break royal rules. Many royals use their titles as surnames when needed. As Debrett’s explains, “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex can, and do, use ‘Sussex’ as their surname. This follows the tradition when Prince Harry used ‘Wales’ as his surname while serving in the army, reflecting his status as the son of the Prince of Wales. Now that he’s the Duke of Sussex, his wife and children are also entitled to use ‘Sussex’ as their surname.”
Despite this, media outlets continue to refer to her as Meghan Markle, as seen in recent coverage by People, and that is unlikely to change anytime soon.
Meghan’s decision to embrace “Sussex” as her last name has clearly struck a nerve. Supporters see it as a meaningful expression of family unity, while critics view it as unnecessary given her limited connection to the county. And, of course, the Mountbatten-Windsor debate ensures the conversation is far from over. What’s your take on it?
