Meghan Markle revealed in her Netflix show that she is now going by the name of Meghan Sussex in a nod to her royal title – and according to insiders, there is a clear reason for the huge change

Meghan Markle has ‘fired a warning shot’ by suddenly changing her surname to Sussex, according to Palace insiders.

In her new Netflix show, which has faced brutal reviews, Meghan declared that she is no longer Markle but Sussex – in a nod to her royal title, the Duchess of Sussex. Meghan also doubled down on the name in an interview saying how meaningful the name Sussex was to her, while in a chat on the Drew Barrymore Show, Meghan was referred to as ‘Meghan Sussex’.

Many have pondered why the duchess has made the change – and so publicly. And according to a royal source, it’s all about Meghan making a public point about her much-debated title.

Meghan corrected pal Mindy Kaling on her new surname ( 
Image:
JUSTIN COIT/NETFLIX)
They told the Daily Mail: “It’s clearly a warning shot”. Harry and Meghan no longer use their HRH titles in their business deals – but can still use the Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles given to them on their wedding day, despite no longer carrying out royal duties.

In her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, the Duchess corrects actress Mindy Kaling regarding her name. As the pair discuss fast food in the second episode, Mindy says: “People wouldn’t believe that Meghan Markle ate at Jack in the Box.”

To which Meghan replies: “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’.”

Meghan appeared on the Drew Barrymore Show ( 
Image:
The Drew Barrymore Show)
And according to royal expert Jennie Bond, the moment she interrupted Mindy in the Netflix show was a very telling moment. 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.

“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 added: “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.

“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.”