Meghan Markle's surname and title explained after ongoing confusion
Tomorrow marks the 45th birthday of Meghan Markle - but if you were thinking of sending her a card, you might have been wondering how exactly to address the envelope.
Meghan Markle? Meghan Sussex? Meghan, Duchess of Sussex? Princess Meghan? Her Royal Highness? Rachel Zane? Who knows?
What we do know is that the Duchess has sparked plenty of discussion over the last few years about what she should be called, particularly after revealing out of the blue in 2025 that she has been using the surname 'Sussex' for some time.
From her family name to her royal title, here's why there's still so much confusion.
Is she still 'Meghan Markle'?
While millions of people still know her by the surname that made her famous during her Suits career - which saw her play powerhouse paralegal Rachel Zane for six years - Meghan has made it clear she now goes by 'Sussex'.
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The topic first made headlines during her Netflix series With Love, Meghan, when actress Mindy Kaling referred to her as 'Meghan Markle'.
At the time, the mother-of-two replied: "It's so funny you keep saying, Meghan Markle. You know it's 'Sussex' now."
The same week, Meghan explained to PEOPLE why the name has become so important, claiming: "It's our shared name as a family, and I guess I hadn't recognised 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. It means a lot to me. Sussex is part of our love story."
More recently, Meghan addressed the topic again after appearing on MasterChef Australia, where judge Poh Ling Yeow politely asked whether she should call her 'Meghan' or 'Your Royal Highness'.
She laughed before replying: "Oh, call me Meghan."
Can 'Sussex' actually be used as a surname?
In short, yes. Royal surnames work a little differently from those used by most families.
Rather than using a traditional family surname, members of the Royal Family have often adopted their territorial designation when one is required.
A great example of this is Meghan's husband, Prince Harry, who was known as 'Harry Wales' during his time serving in the British Army, given that his father, then Prince Charles, had been the Prince of Wales.
Since becoming the 'Duke and Duchess of Sussex' following their wedding in 2018, Harry and Meghan have been able to use 'Sussex' as a family surname, with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, also using it.
Technically, Meghan's surname could have been 'Meghan Mountbatten-Windsor', although she has never publicly identified herself by that name. The surname was created in 1960 for descendants of Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, who do not use the style of His or Her Royal Highness.
Meghan and Harry's children, however, have used it.
Prince Archie was christened 'Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor', while Princess Lilibet was christened 'Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor'.
So, while 'Mountbatten-Windsor' is the family's formal surname, Meghan has said 'Sussex' is the name that represents their family unit, being shared between the foursome.
People may still instinctively call her 'Meghan Markle', but she's long made it clear that's no longer the name she identifies with.
Why is she also called 'Meghan, Duchess of Sussex'?
When Harry and Meghan married in May 2018, his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, granted them the titles of the 'Duke and Duchess of Sussex'.
Although the couple stepped back as senior working royals less than two years later, those titles were never removed, meaning Meghan's formal title remains 'Duchess of Sussex'.
One detail that often catches people out, however, is why she's frequently referred to as 'Meghan, Duchess of Sussex', while also telling celebrity pals that her surname is simply 'Sussex'.
Meghan herself has acknowledged it's a confusing distinction.
Speaking to Bloomberg's Emily Chang last year, she confessed: "It's a complicated one for people to understand because a last name is not typical in that construct."
She went on to explain that she changed her name when she got married, adding that 'Sussex' can be used 'loosely' as a last name, because it 'works as our family name, and it's the name that we share with our children'.
However, she also clarified at the time that the full title remains separate from the family's surname, saying: "It's a dukedom. That's the truth of it. My legal name is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Since we've been married, that's what I've been called."
Despite what some royal watchers believe, 'Meghan, Duchess of Sussex' isn't a lesser title than simply 'The Duchess of Sussex', or a sign that she's lost any royal status. It's simply the style by which she's known publicly and in official references.
It's also far from unique to Meghan. Following her divorce from the then-Prince Charles in 1996, Diana was formally styled 'Diana, Princess of Wales'.
And Sarah Ferguson has continued to use 'Sarah, Duchess of York' since her divorce from Prince Andrew (although this title has allegedly been removed in light of revelations regarding her relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein).
The style is not strictly reserved for divorcées, but it is often used for royals who are no longer working members of the institution.
It's not an adaptation strictly reserved for divorcées, however, and seems to be reserved for individuals who are no longer working senior royals.
So, is she still 'Her Royal Highness'?
As mentioned, in January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced they would step back as senior working members of the Royal Family, leave the UK for a fresh start in California (where they've remained ever since) and work towards becoming financially independent.
The couple have since said they decided after experiencing a lack of support from within the royal institution, alongside intense media scrutiny.
In their notorious 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan also alleged there had been conversations within the Royal Family about Archie's skin colour before he was born, while Harry said he feared 'history repeating itself' in reference to his mother, Princess Diana.
Under the agreement reached when they stepped back, however, Harry and Meghan retained their 'Duke and Duchess of Sussex' titles, but agreed they would no longer use their His/Her Royal Highness (HRH) styles because they were no longer carrying out official royal duties.
Their titles have remained a source of debate ever since.
Critics argue the couple should give them up altogether after leaving royal duties and frequently speaking out about their experiences within the institution, while supporters maintain the dukedom was never revoked by the late Queen, and that they are fully entitled to continue using the titles.
So, what should you put on the birthday card?
If you're keeping things casual, Meghan herself has already given the answer: "You can just call me Meghan."
If you're opting for the formal version, 'Meghan, Duchess of Sussex' remains her correct royal title.
One thing Meghan has made clear, though, is that 'Markle' is no longer the surname she identifies with.
As she put it herself: "I'm Sussex now."
Topics: Meghan Markle, Royal Family, UK News, US News, Prince Harry
Rhianna Benson