Meghan Markle has signalled a ‘warning shot’ by opting to change her surname to Sussex, Palace insiders have revealed.
In her latest Netflix series, which has been met with harsh criticism, Meghan announced she is shedding the Markle moniker in favour of Sussex, reflecting her Royal title as the Duchess of Sussex.
Further emphasising this shift, Meghan underscored the significance of the name Sussex during an interview, and even on the Drew Barrymore Show, she was introduced as ‘Meghan Sussex’. The move has sparked speculation about her motives for such a public declaration.
A Royal insider suggested to the Daily Mail that it’s Meghan’s way of making a statement about her contentious title, saying: “It’s clearly a warning shot”.
Although Harry and Meghan have stepped back from using their HRH titles in business ventures, they retain the right to use the Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles bestowed upon them on their wedding day, despite no longer fulfilling Royal responsibilities, reports the Mirror.
In her Netflix show ‘With Love, Meghan’, the Duchess corrects actress Mindy Kaling about her name. During a conversation about fast food in the second episode, Mindy remarks: “People wouldn’t believe that Meghan Markle ate at Jack in the Box.”
Meghan responds: “It’s so funny, too, that you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know I’m Sussex now. You have kids, and you go, ‘no 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 name’.”
Royal expert Jennie Bond has analysed a moment in the Netflix show where Meghan interrupted Mindy, describing it as very revealing. The former BBC Royal correspondent told the Mirror: “I thought it was rather a pointed remark to make so publicly to a friend – she could have just halted the filming for a moment and privately corrected her guest. But she makes a fair argument: that some women feel it’s important for the family to have a shared surname.”
She added: “As it happens, I don’t. I’ve never understood why a woman should be expected to change her name just because she marries. But I’m probably in the minority.”
Jennie explained that despite some arguing that Meghan should not use the Sussex name, she is entitled to do so – and is actually carrying on a long-standing Royal tradition.
She continued: “She’s perfectly entitled to use the name Sussex, just as other royal brides have adopted part of their titles as a surname, for example, Sophie Wessex. It’s all rather confusing really, especially as titles change, either when someone dies or a new title is bestowed.”
She concluded: “The official royal surname for the late Queen’s descendants is Mountbatten-Windsor. But Prince George and his siblings were actually called Cambridge at school, and now Wales. Harry and William adopted the surname Wales in their military careers.
“So Meghan is quite within her rights to adopt a married name of Sussex and also use this for the children. I don’t think she’s particularly trying to cling to her royal connections – more that she is celebrating the bond with her husband and children.”
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