Why the Sussex surname matters more than ever
Beyond the Easter pond drama and Oprah’s harmless teasing, the conversation reignited public interest in the couple’s family name — one that Meghan recently emphasized holds deep emotional significance.
In a March interview with PEOPLE magazine, the Duchess of Sussex shared that she, Harry, and their children — Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 3 — have been quietly using “Sussex” as their shared surname. The title was granted to the couple by Queen Elizabeth II on their wedding day and has since become more than just a formal designation.
“It’s our shared name as a family,” Meghan explained. “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.”
She echoed that sentiment in her Netflix series As Ever, Meghan, when correcting actress Mindy Kaling during a conversation. After Mindy repeatedly referred to her as “Meghan Markle,” the Duchess gently clarified, “You know I’m Sussex now.”
“It just means so much,” she continued. “You have kids and you go, ‘No, I share my name with my children.’ It’s our little family name.”
As for the pronunciation confusion? Grammatically, “Sussexes” is correct when referring to the family as a whole — just as you’d say “the Joneses” or “the Felixes.” It may be awkward to say out loud, but it’s perfectly proper on paper.
While Oprah’s pond joke may have momentarily stolen headlines, the real story might be how seriously Harry and Meghan take their shared identity — not as royals in exile, but as a family choosing to define themselves on their own terms.
