Meghan Markle addresses whether people should call her 'Duchess'

Meghan Markle answered a question about her royal title during a recent TV appearance.

The Duchess of Sussex, 44, joined the judges and contestants on the 26 July episode of the cooking competition series Masterchef Australia.

After introducing the surprise guest star, judge Poh Ling Yeow asked Meghan how they should address their royal guest, asking: “Do we call you Duchess?”

Prince Harry and Meghan retained their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after stepping back from royal duties in 2020. The former actress confirmed in 2025 interview with Emily Chang for The Circuit, she confirmed her legally changed her name upon marrying the prince in 2018. She is officially known as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, with ‘Sussex’ being the family name.

However, both Harry and Meghan have often opted to using their first names, or nicknames, during their outings.

Meghan made a guest appearance on the cooking competition (Channel 10)

The question about how to address her wasn’t completely unexpected. “Oh, call me Meghan,” she replied.

Many naysayers seemingly took offence to the Duchess of Sussex using her legal surname in recent years. During her Netflix lifestyle series With Love, Meghan, a mild controversy arose after guest Mindy Kaling used her maiden name.

“People wouldn’t believe that Meghan Markle ate at Jack in the Box,” the sitcom star said.

Meghan playfully responded: “It’s so funny, too, that you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know I’m Sussex now.”

She explained: “I share my name with my children. I didn’t know how meaningful that would be to me, but it just means so much to go, ‘This is our family name, our little family name.’’

Meghan and Harry still use the titles Duke and Duchess of Sussex which was given to them by the late Queen Elizabeth II on their wedding day in 2018.

When Harry and Meghan merely stepped back from their roles as senior working royals, they did not lose their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Meghan's surname is Sussex (Channel 10)

While there have been periodic calls for their titles to be removed, that would be far from straightforward and would require an Act of Parliament.

Meghan's more casual name reveal came after a teaser for the episode showed Yeow introducing Meghan using both her royal title and maiden name.

“We’ve had MasterChef royalty in the kitchen before, but nothing like this,” the MasterChef judge said. “All the way from sunny California, please welcome to MasterChef Australia...the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle!”

The episode was filmed during the couple's trip to Australia in April and the Duke of Sussex also made a surprise cameo.