Meghan Markle has made a striking change—she’s no longer going by Meghan Markle.

In an unexpected move, the Duchess of Sussex has started using “Sussex” as her last name, aligning with her husband, Prince Harry, and their children, Archie and Lilibet.

A new name

Meghan Markle’s new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, is stirring conversation—not just for its content but for her name change. On the show, she told Mindy Kaling that “Sussex” is now her last name, emphasizing its importance as a family identity. This shift has sparked debate on royal traditions and branding.

In a recent interview with People, Meghan expressed a similar feeling.

When she and Harry got married, the late Queen Elizabeth II granted them the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex. As noted on the Royal Family’s official website, their children hold the titles of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.

Reflecting on the significance of their family name, Meghan shared, “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. 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.”

It appears that Meghan has occasionally used “Sussex” as a surname in more casual situations. For instance, during conversations with Mindy Kaling and on The Drew Barrymore Show. When she was on The Drew Barrymore Show on March 6 to discuss her latest projects, host Drew Barrymore introduced her by saying, “This is the Fast Five with Meghan Sussex.”

Why its raising eyebrows

Meghan Markle was publicly addressed as “Meghan Sussex” for the first time, sparking criticism. Many argue her surname should be “Mountbatten-Windsor” since “Sussex” is a title, not a last name.

Royal fans questioned the choice, with some pointing out she wouldn’t use “Meghan Sussex” legally. Her father, Thomas Markle, also expressed disappointment, believing she is distancing herself from the Markle name, which would have saddened his late mother.

Thomas criticized Meghan’s public persona, calling it inauthentic. Their relationship remains strained since he missed her 2018 wedding, with some blaming his media appearances for their ongoing rift.

Meghan’s Name Choice: A Royal Controversy?

There’s no issue with Meghan using “Meghan Sussex” as her name—many royals use their titles as surnames. Prince Harry, for example, went by “Wales” in the army, following royal tradition.

Despite this, the media still refers to her as Meghan Markle, as seen in People magazine. Her choice to adopt “Sussex” has sparked debate—some see it as fitting, while others question the connection.

And then there’s the ever-present Mountbatten-Windsor discussion—royal naming conventions never fail to stir controversy. What’s your take?