Meghan Markle has officially embraced her family name as she transitions to life outside royal duties. The Duchess of Sussex revealed on her new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, her decision to go by "Sussex," the name she now shares with her husband, Prince Harry, and their two children, Archie and Lilibet. This name change stands as more than just formal identification; it symbolizes her deepening familial bonds and commitment to creating a united front as she navigates new endeavors.
The moment of the name switch was casual yet poignant. During the episode, when her friend Mindy Kaling mistakenly referred to her by her maiden name, Meghan gently corrected her, laughing, “It’s so funny you keep saying Markle. You know it’s Sussex now. You have kids, and you go, ‘No, I share my name with my children.’ And, it feels so … I didn’t know how meaningful it would be, but it just means so much to go, ‘This is our family name, our little family name.’”
Markle expressed her newfound attachment to the surname, noting how significant it has become since welcoming her children. “It's our shared name as a family,” she told People magazine. “I guess I hadn’t recognized how meaningful it would be to me until we had children.” The emphasis on family connection appears to be particularly poignant, especially as camera shutters capture her family’s dynamic. After all, this development occurs amid a backdrop of fragmented family ties, particularly concerning her estranged father, Thomas Markle.
The Duchess and Prince Harry wed back in 2018, embarking on their royal duties before opting to step back from the limelight to raise their family peacefully in Montecito, California. The couple’s children, initially known as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, have since been graced with royal titles, now being referred to as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex post King Charles III’s ascension to the throne.
Markle’s commitment to her new name coincides with her efforts to build her public persona. Her Netflix show, set to premiere on March 4, 2025, highlights not just her family life but also her foray back to entrepreneurial ventures with her lifestyle brand, Everything has Always Been, which has recently been renamed to “as ever”. This brand aims to offer products like cookie and pancake mixes alongside various baked goods, and biscuits, inspired by Meghan’s passion for food, gardening, and thoughtful living.
Her brand change was publicly announced via Instagram and has raised eyebrows, especially surrounding its logo design. The insignia features a white palm tree accompanied by two hummingbirds against a baby blue background. Critics have purported it resembles the coat of arms from a small town in Mallorca, Spain, which has stirred discussions around originality and cultural representation.
Despite the controversies, Meghan appears ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities her new ventures present. Sharing her thoughts on the importance of the Sussex name, Meghan noted, “I love the fact this is something Archie, Lili, H, and I all have together. It means a lot to me.” The name has become intertwined with their family’s love story, marking their shared experiences as they navigate parenthood.
With her lifestyle brand and new Netflix series, Meghan Markle is reinforcing her commitment to defining her identity beyond her royal lineage, pivoting toward nurturing her family and pursuing her passion projects. The public may continue to speculate about the ramifications of her decisions, but Meghan appears steadfast, drawing strength from her family and her new title as she embarks on this exciting chapter.