Meghan Markle corrects Mindy Kaling over surname in new Netflix show: 'You know I'm Sussex now'
It happened during a candid moment on the show with actress Mindy Kaling.
MEGHAN Markle isn't leaving room for doubt—she wants everyone to know that she now goes by the surname Sussex. In her latest Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, 43, took a moment to gently but pointedly correct actress and longtime friend Mindy Kaling when she referred to her simply as "Meghan Markle".
The moment happened in the second episode as the two prepared for a charming children's garden tea party. Mid-conversation, Meghan seized the opportunity to remind Kaling—and by extension, everyone watching—that she prefers if her last name is addressed as Sussex.
The awkward candid exchange took place as the two bonded over their shared experiences of being busy mothers.
Markle described her upbringing, recalling how she was a "latchkey kid" who often had fast food and microwavable meals.
"I grew up with that and watching Jeopardy! and having a lot of fast food—Taco Bell, Jack in the Box," she shared.
Kaling responded with surprise, saying, "People wouldn’t believe that Meghan Markle ate at Jack in the Box."
"It’s so funny, too, that you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know I’m Sussex now,” while smiling, she told the actress.
Markle then elaborated on why the name Sussex holds deep significance for her, saying, "You have kids, and you go, ‘No, I share my name with my children.’"
She described it as a unifying symbol for their family, adding, "I didn’t know how meaningful that would be to me, but it just means so much to say, ‘This is our family name, our little family name’,”
Kaling nodded in agreement, responding, "Now I know, and I love it."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior royals in 2020 and have since been raising their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in Montecito, California.
Despite relinquishing their royal duties, they still retain their titles.
While Markle often references her children in With Love, Meghan, they do not make an appearance. However, Prince Harry and Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, feature briefly in the final episode.
In media reports, Markle reflected on the importance of the Sussex name, stating, "I love that that is something that Archie, Lili, H (Prince Harry) and I all have together. It means a lot to me."
She further explained that the title has become a crucial part of their love story, adding, "I think as the kids get older, they’re so excited about, ‘Oh my gosh, Mama and Papa, how did you meet?’ I think that will come with time as they get older, but for right now, a huge part of our love story is that we share the name Sussex."
Queen Elizabeth II granted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles to Harry and Meghan when they wed in 2018.
Archie, 5, and Lilibet, 3, use Sussex as their surname, following royal tradition. It was noted that Prince Harry was once known as "Harry Wales" in his school years, adopting his father, King Charles III’s, former title, Prince of Wales, as his surname.
Originally named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, the children were granted prince and princess titles when their grandfather ascended to the throne in 2022, updating their official names to "Prince Archie of Sussex" and "Princess Lilibet of Sussex" on the royal family’s website.
Reflecting on her role as a parent, Markle expressed her gratitude for the ability to be present in her children’s lives, saying in With Love, Meghan,
"It’s a real delight to be a present parent. It’s a luxury because we all have to work."
With Love, Meghan, which premiered on March 4, showcases the Duchess of Sussex as she shares tips on cooking, gardening, and hosting, alongside celebrity guests and chefs.
Notable appearances include chef Alice Waters, actress Mindy Kaling, and Suits co-star Abigail Spencer. The series coincides with a rebranding of Markle’s lifestyle venture, previously called American Riviera Orchard and now known as As Ever.
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