Meghan issues fresh clarification over her Sussex surname and royal title

During a chat about childhood favourite fast foods, Kaling repeatedly referred to her host as "Meghan Markle".

The Duchess of Sussex promptly corrected her guest, insisting: "It's so funny you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know I'm 'Sussex' now."

After her correction, Meghan explained the title's significance: "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'."

The Duchess of Sussex has now reiterated her position on the Sussex surname in a new podcast interview with The Circuit.

Meghan said: "When I got married, I changed my name.

“It's a complicated one for people to understand because a last name is not typical in that construct.

She continued: "My legal name is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, but Sussex for us works as our family name.

“It's the name that we share with our children, but yes since we've been married, that's what I've been called."

Meghan's use of "Sussex" as a surname follows established royal protocol as the practice of royals using their titles as surnames is longstanding within the Royal Family.

It represents a common shorthand that has been employed by numerous members of the monarchy throughout generations.

Wendy Bosberry-Scott, editor of Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage, explained: "The official surname of the Royal Family is Mountbatten-Windsor. However, it has long been the practice of the Royal Family, and indeed the peerage, to use a title as a surname where one is available.

"This is why when Prince Harry was in the army, he was known as Harry Wales, as his father was then Prince of Wales."

"Now that he is the Duke of Sussex, it is perfectly within protocol for him to use Harry Sussex and for his wife to use Meghan Sussex.

She added: "Typically, where a title is involved, children are registered under both names, as was the case when Prince Archie was registered in 2019; he appears in the indexes of the General Register Office under Sussex and Mountbatten-Windsor."

This practice extends to other members of the Royal Family as well. Prince William and his children use Wales as their surname, reflecting his status as the Prince of Wales.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie also used York as their surname before marriage, after their father's title as Duke of York.

The children of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, however, use Mountbatten-Windsor.