Meghan Markle is now widely known as Meghan Sussex. This change may seem simple, but it carries deep personal meaning. In this article, we’ll explain why Meghan adopted the name “Sussex,” how it affects her children—Archie and Lilibet—and what it tells us about royal naming traditions.
In the Netflix series With Love, Meghan, she gently corrected Mindy Kaling, saying, “You know I’m Sussex now.” Meghan explained that having children made her want to share a family name. “It just means so much to say, ‘This is our family name.’ Our little family name,” she said. This reflects her desire for unity with Prince Harry and their children.
Meghan Markle Name Change: Why She Chose the Sussex Title
Although Meghan and Harry were given the Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles in 2018, Meghan still went by Meghan Markle for years. Her children, however, were named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. So why didn’t they use “Sussex” earlier? Meghan has now embraced her title more publicly, aligning her identity with her family name—Sussex.
How Royal Family Names Change Over Time
In the British royal family, names and titles evolve. For example, Prince Harry was born Henry Charles Albert David but used “Wales” as his last name in school and the military. Meghan’s change mirrors this tradition. It’s a way to reflect identity, role, and lineage within the monarchy.
How Meghan Officially Became Meghan Sussex
When Queen Elizabeth II granted Harry and Meghan their titles upon marriage, it was a royal gift tied to their new roles. At the time, they were working royals. Many still referred to Meghan as Markle, just as people still call Princess Catherine by her former name, Kate Middleton. Over time, Meghan has chosen to adopt the Sussex name more actively. “It’s our shared name as a family,” she explained. “I love that it’s something Archie, Lili, H, and I all have together. It means a lot to me.”
What Does It Mean to Be the Duchess of Sussex?
When Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in 2018, Queen Elizabeth gave them royal titles. Meghan became the Duchess of Sussex—a noble title, not a last name.
A Duchess is the wife of a Duke, which is one of the highest titles in the royal family (just below Prince or Princess). Meghan was also the first ever Duchess of Sussex, as the title hadn’t been used before.
After stepping down as senior royals in 2020, Harry and Meghan lost their official duties but kept their titles. Meghan is no longer “Her Royal Highness,” but she is still the Duchess of Sussex.
- The Duchess of Sussex is a royal title given to Meghan.
- She got it by marrying Harry.
- It’s not their surname but a family title.
- She still keeps the title, even after leaving royal duties.
Why Archie and Lilibet Don’t Use ‘Sussex’ as Their Surname
When Archie was born in 2019 and Lilibet in 2021, they didn’t receive royal titles or use the Sussex surname. This was partly because Prince William’s children—George, Charlotte, and Louis—are direct heirs and thus entitled to formal titles. Meghan and Harry decided not to give titles to Archie and Lilibet at the time, and Queen Elizabeth II didn’t push for it either. That’s why they were named Mountbatten-Windsor.
What Is the Mountbatten-Windsor Surname?
Mountbatten-Windsor is a combination of Prince Philip’s surname (Mountbatten) and Queen Elizabeth’s family name (Windsor). In 1960, it was agreed that descendants without royal titles would use this surname. Prince Edward’s children—Lady Louise and James—also use Mountbatten-Windsor. This surname represents both royal and personal heritage.
How Royal Titles Can Be Used as Last Names
When formal surnames aren’t used, members of the royal family often adopt their titles as last names. That’s why Prince William and Prince Harry were known as William Wales and Harry Wales during school and military service. It’s likely that Meghan’s children could someday use “Sussex” the same way.
Archie and Lilibet’s Royal Titles After Queen Elizabeth’s Death
After Queen Elizabeth II passed away in 2022 and Charles became King, Archie and Lilibet gained the right to be called Prince and Princess. Archie is now Prince Archie of Sussex, and Lilibet is Princess Lilibet of Sussex. They are sixth and seventh in line to the British throne, respectively. Following Lilibet’s baptism in 2023, the royal family’s official website updated their names to reflect their new titles.
Why the Sussex Name Matters to Meghan and Her Family
Now living in the United States, Meghan and Harry use “Sussex” as a way to build their unique family identity. Meghan’s adoption of the name shows her commitment to creating a strong family bond. To her, “Sussex” is more than a title—it’s a name that connects her, Harry, Archie, and Lilibet.
Who gets a last name and who doesn’t in the royal family?
In 1960, the queen and Philip opted to join forces, determining that all of their descendants who weren’t designated as his or her royal highness and prince or princess would be Mountbatten-Windsors. Archie and Lili’s first cousins once removed, their great-uncle Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie’s children Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn, also have Mountbatten-Windsor as surnames. And they are so titled because their dad was an earl when they were born and it’s what the queen wished them to be called, though they were also technically prince and princess at birth and still are. (King Charles gifted his youngest brother Edward the title of Duke of Edinburgh, previously their father Philip’s title, in March 2023. So, Sophie is now Duchess of Edinburgh after spending most of her married life as Countess of Wessex, though it took forever for her not to be known as Sophie Rhys-Jones.) Though anyone can snag a last name from their birth titles when needed, hence William Wales and Harry Wales—born Prince William of Wales and Prince Harry of Wales—back in the day.
When did Archie and Lili’s names change to Sussex?
When the queen died in 2022 and William and Harry’s father became King Charles III, then Archie and Lili became children of the son of the reigning monarch, and as such became entitled to go by Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lili of Sussex, now sixth and seventh in line to the throne. Meanwhile, their cousins Prince George of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Prince Louis of Cambridge became Prince George of Wales and so on, once William and Kate became the Prince and Princess of Wales. (So when they’re in need of regular names for school, etc., we present George Wales, Charlotte Wales and Louis Wales.) Archie had already long since been christened, but Lili’s parents used her princess title when she was baptized in March 2023 and the royal family’s website was updated to reflect both kids’ new titles soon after. And now, especially since Meghan and Harry are living in America, the whole family’s last name is just Sussex. Really, what else would it have been? Read on for more of the meanings behind royal family names: Queen Elizabeth, Christmas
Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II shared her first name with her mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (known as the Queen Mother later in life), and the remaining names of her full born name, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, came from her maternal and paternal grandmothers, respectively. Moreover, her full title was Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of this Realm and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. Meanwhile, it’s royal protocol that every new royal family member’s name is approved by the reigning monarch. (Elizabeth’s younger sister Princess Margaret was originally intended to be Ann, but their dad King George V wasn’t feeling it.) Prince CharlesHagen
King Charles III
The current monarch was born Charles Philip Arthur George and went on to be the longest-serving heir apparent in British history before becoming king at 73. His first name is one of the royal family’s oldest names, dating back to the 17th century, while Philip is inspired by his father, the Duke of Edinburgh. Formerly the Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay, Charles became the Prince of Wales—a title historically given to the eldest son of the reigning monarch—at the age of 21 in 1958. Prince William, Kate MiddletonDanny
The future king’s full name, William Arthur
Philip Louis (born June 21, 1982) is filled with tradition, including Philip as a nod to his grandfather, Arthur, which he shares with Prince Charles, and Louis, which he passed down to his two sons as well. In the 1992 book Diana: Her Story, it was revealed that Princess Diana actually picked her two sons’ names after vetoing her husband Prince Charles’ picks. When she was asked, “Who chose [Harry’s] name?,” Diana answered, “I did… chose William and Harry, but Charles did the rest.” She also revealed Charles’ original picks: “He wanted Albert and Arthur, and I said no. Too old!” After William and Catherine “Kate” Middleton married in 2011, they became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. When his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II died and his father Charles ascended to the throne in 2022, they became the Prince and Princess of Wales. Incidentally, they also replaced Charles and now Queen Camilla as Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, and Earl and Countess of Chester. They’ve also had the Scottish titles Earl and Countess of Strathearn since their wedding day and are known as Baron and Baroness Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland. And that’s not all. E! News Security Guard Testifies Sean “Diddy” Combs Told Him These 3 Eerie Words E! News Kim Kardashian Reveals North West’s Extravagant Mother’s Day Gift to Her E! News Sean “Diddy” Combs Lawsuit: Celebrities Who Have Spoken Out on Allegations E! News Hailey Bieber Shares Eyebrow-Raising Message Amid Justin Bieber’s Cryptic Behavior E! News Sean “Diddy” Combs Allegedly Made Cassie Ventura Call Him This Nickname After Her Grandfather Prince George and Prince WilliamKarwai Tang/WireImage
Prince George of Wales George Alexander Louis was Prince George of Cambridge at birth on July 22, 2013, but is now Prince George of Wales, his name shifting accordingly. Louis was seemingly a nod to Louis Mountbatten, Prince Philip’s beloved uncle and a mentor to future King Charles, who was killed in an IRA bombing in 1979. Princess CharlotteThe Duchess of Cambridge
Princess Charlotte of Wales William and Kate’s daughter’s full name—Charlotte Elizabeth Diana—is filled with poignant tributes to many of her family members. Charlotte, born May 2, 2015, is also believed to be a nod to her granddad Charles, as well as the middle name of Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton and grandmother. Elizabeth is clearly a reference to Queen Elizabeth, her great-grandmother, while Diana is also another clear tribute, paying respect to William’s late mother. When her parents became Prince and Princess of Wales, she also went from being a Cambridge to being Princess Charlotte of Wales. Royals Christmas Walk 2023, Prince Louis, Prince WilliamSamir Hussein/WireImage
Prince Louis of Wales “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son Louis Arthur Charles,” Kensington Palace announced shortly after the birth of William and Kate’s third child on April 23, 2018. “The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge.” Once again, he too is now Prince Louis of Wales. Prince Harry, Meghan MarkleMike Coppola/Getty Images for 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Henry Charles Albert David was born Prince Henry of Wales on Sept. 15, 1984, but his parents said they’d be calling him Harry and that’s the name that stuck. When Harry married California native and Suits alum Meghan Markle in 2018 they became the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Royal Baby, Archie HarrisonDominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Prince Archie of Sussex Meghan and Harry just liked the name Archie, so that’s what they named their firstborn child when he was born on May 6, 2019. The choice stumped royal experts, with historian Marlene Koenig previously telling E! News, “This is a most unusual choice [of name], but I am not surprised because I have said that they would go out of the box. There are no Archies or Archibald’s in the family. I have said a few times that the parents of non-royals seem to have more leeway, more freedom.” (It is worth noting that Princess Diana has an ancestor named Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll of Scotland.) Harrison, however, literally means “son of Harry.” His surname upon arrival was Mountbatten-Windsor, the adopted surname of Prince Philip when he became a British citizen, combined with Windsor, the last name of the queen’s male-line descendants who do not have royal styles and titles. When his great-grandmother the queen died and grandad Charles became king, as a child of the son of the reigning monarch he became Prince Archie of Sussex. Meghan Markle, Princess Lilibet, Serena Williams, Instagram, 2025Instagram / Meghan Markle
Princess Lilibet of Sussex Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born to Meghan and Harry on June 4, 2021. “Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet,” read a statement from the family. “Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales.” Akin to her brother, she became Princess Lilibet of Sussex when her grandfather Charles became king. Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie Royal WeddingAndrew Matthews/PA Wire
Princess Beatrice
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s third child, Prince Andrew, became the Duke of York when he married Sarah Ferguson (post-divorce, they’re still Duke and Duchess of York), and they welcomed their first child in 1988, Beatrice Elizabeth Mary. Beatrice, which means “she who brings happiness,” was the name of Queen Victoria’s fifth daughter. It was far from the odds-makers’ radar when they were predicting the name of the queen’s fifth grandchild. Elizabeth, of course, is an homage to the queen, whose own grandmother was Mary of Teck.) As a child of the son of the reigning monarch, Beatrice was given an HRH (Her Royal Highness) title and became a princess. The queen didn’t give her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi a title when they wed in 2020, so their daughters Sienna and Athena are Mapelli Mozzis. Princess EugenieEuropa Newswire/Shutterstock
Princess Eugenie
Andrew and Sarah returned to the Victorian era to name their second daughter, Eugenie Victoria Helena. Princess Victoria Eugenie was a daughter of the aforementioned Princess Beatrice, Victoria’s ninth and final child. When Eugenie wed Jack Brooksbank in 2018, the queen opted not to give him an official title, so he remains a mister and their sons August and Earnest are Brooksbanks
The Deeper Meaning Behind Royal Family Names
Let’s explore history behind some royal names:
- Queen Elizabeth II: Named after her mother and grandmothers.
- King Charles III: Names honor royal ancestors and his father, Philip.
- Prince William and Princess Kate’s Children: George, Charlotte, and Louis’ names reflect tradition and tribute to relatives.
- Prince George: His name may honor Lord Louis Mountbatten.
- Princess Charlotte: Named after Charles, Elizabeth, and Diana.
- Prince Louis: Middle names Arthur and Charles have royal significance.
- Archie and Lilibet: Archie was chosen for its simplicity; Harrison means “son of Harry.” Lilibet honors Queen Elizabeth’s nickname, and Diana honors Harry’s late mother.
- Beatrice and Eugenie’s Children: They take their fathers’ surnames and carry both royal and personal heritage.
What Meghan Markle’s New Name Means for the Royal Future
Meghan Markle becoming Meghan Sussex marks more than just a name change. It’s about identity, unity, and family. Royal names often evolve to reflect roles, titles, and family connections. In Meghan’s case, “Sussex” is now the symbol of her love and togetherness with Harry, Archie, and Lilibet.
