Meghan Markle took care of to address the confusion over her name change in a new interview on her series, With Love, Meghan. It’s an issue that The Duchess of Sussex fully addressed in her recent interview with Bloomberg’s Emily Chang on The Circuit. She painted a useful picture of the intricacies of royal naming traditions. This announcement comes after a recent, painful, and public FAM misunderstanding with actress Mindy Kaling. When Markle appeared during an episode of Kaling’s show, Kaling in turn tripped over Markle’s name, calling her “Meghan Markle.”
During the discussion, Markle shared that she is still very much enjoying life as a Duchess of Sussex. This shift immediately followed her nuptials to Prince Harry. She pointed out that most of the people on this call are still addressing her by her maiden name. Yet, it is formally her legal name that she wants everyone to recognize: “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.”
“It’s so funny, too, that you keep saying, ‘Meghan Markle,’” – Meghan Markle
Markle went on to explain the complex structures behind royal naming conventions, acknowledging that from an American perspective, it’s a confusing system. She explained how a lack of understanding can come into play, in that a last name is not usually used inside royal structures.
The Complexity of Royal Naming Conventions
In her interview with Chang, Markle was clear about the complexities of her name change. She talked about how her marriage changed her relationship with herself. She brought attention to why others will struggle to comprehend this fundamental shift.
“When I got married, I changed my name. It’s a complicated one for people to understand because a last name is not typical in that construct,” – Meghan Markle
She made sure everyone knows her legal name is now Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Contrary to what she says on her passport, she and her family would much rather go by “Sussex.” This decision is an expression of the nature of their on‐the‐road family that they all love.
“My legal name is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, but Sussex for us works as our family name. It’s the name that we share with our children,” said Markle during the interview.
Family Identity and Legacy
Markle discussed in depth why it’s important for her biracial children, Archie and Lilibet, to have their father’s Sussex surname. She said she was proud of their shared new family name and looked forward to building their lives together under it.
As a parent, Markle hopes that her kids are able to lean into their culture in their royal family home. Yet, she pushes them to distance themselves from their often negative ties to their American roots. She added that her kids would use the Sussex name, which represents their family’s history.
Now at 45, Markle still faces the pressures of royal life—exacerbated by her stepped back status—while finding and expressing herself on her own terms. Her subsequent clarifications helped improve the understanding of the challenges involved in being both a royal and an American citizen.
