Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has once again become the focus of public discussion after clarifying that she no longer uses “Markle” as her last name. Instead, she has been identifying herself as “Sussex,” aligning her family name with Prince Harry and their children, Archie and Lilibet. The clarification, delivered casually but firmly, has prompted renewed debate over royal naming conventions, personal identity, and the blurred lines between tradition and modern public life.
The moment that reignited the conversation occurred on Meghan’s recently released Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. During an on-camera exchange with Mindy Kaling, Kaling referred to her as “Meghan Markle.” Meghan responded with a smile and a gentle correction, noting that she now goes by “Sussex.” She explained that the change was rooted in personal meaning rather than public positioning. Becoming a mother, she said, reshaped how she thought about names and family identity, and sharing the same name as her children carried unexpected emotional importance.
