In yet another controversial move, Meghan Markle appears to have rebranded herself once again. The Duchess of Sussex recently announced that she no longer wishes to be known as Meghan Markle, instead opting for the name Meghan Sussex.
However, this unexpected surname change did not sit well with British aristocracy. Lord Ivar Mountbatten, a second cousin of King Charles and one of the few extended royal family members willing to address such matters directly, was quick to dismiss Meghan’s claim. In a conversation with Town & Country, he flatly stated that her supposed name change was entirely incorrect.
This revelation came to light during Meghan’s much-discussed Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, a five-hour production that critics argue could have been condensed into a brief infomercial on self-pity. In a conversation with actress Mindy Kaling, Meghan made a dramatic declaration: “It’s funny you keep saying Meghan Markle—you know, I’m Sussex now.” Mindy’s frozen expression of polite confusion likely reflected the thoughts of millions watching. By “Sussex,” Meghan was referring to the title she received upon marrying into the royal family—the very institution she has spent years both embracing and criticizing. However, her justification for adopting Sussex as a surname raised even more questions. She claimed she made the switch because, as a mother, she wanted to share a last name with her children.
There was just one problem: Meghan’s children, Archie and Lilibet, do not bear the surname Sussex. Their official last name is Mountbatten-Windsor, the family name assigned to direct descendants of Queen Elizabeth II. Lord Ivar, likely weary of yet another Meghan-related controversy, clarified what many already knew—her family name is not Sussex. He explained that Archie and Lilibet are Mountbatten-Windsor, not Sussex, because titles do not function as legal surnames. While aristocratic designations may look elegant on monogrammed towels or secure prime seating at charity galas, they do not replace one’s actual family name. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain just that—titles. Officially, Harry is Harry Mountbatten-Windsor, and Meghan would be Meghan Mountbatten-Windsor.
This latest controversy begs the question: What exactly is Meghan’s real name these days? If she is no longer Meghan Markle and cannot legally claim to be Meghan Sussex, then who is she? Rachel Ragland? Meghan Mountbatten-Windsor? Perhaps even Meghan Sussex-Ragland? While it is common for royals to be informally addressed by their titles, transforming a title into a surname is an unprecedented move—one that seems uniquely Meghan. If history has proven anything, it’s that she treats names, titles, and narratives much like she does family—disposable and subject to change when inconvenient.
Will she eventually embrace Mountbatten-Windsor for its aristocratic flair? Will she reinvent herself yet again, perhaps as Meghan of Montecito? Or will she take a page from pop royalty and drop the surname altogether, à la Madonna? With Meghan, nothing is ever off the table. In the end, Lord Ivar Mountbatten simply said what everyone else was already thinking—Meghan is, quite simply, incorrect. But when has that ever stopped her before?
