The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Family, News and Events 10: August 2024 -

[FigTree]

It isn't horrendous! But it's not quite right either. There are good things here and something there that could possibly work. As in like I previously said, having Meghan invite these people in and having them teach her and talk about their experiences. She is often interested and curious. It's the best she has ever appeared in public to be fair.

Netflix could make something of this by teasing out what works. But Meghan as some kind of lifestyle influencer. No. She's an average person with average talents with these things. Also the one episode with her friends playing a board game was very WASP ladies that lunch. Her own friends very much LA sunshine. Too much going on. Hopefully Meghan is willing to see her talent may be in just being there facilitating us learning from the creations of others.

 

[Mbruno]

If the programme's no good - and I haven't watched it, so I can't comment - then it's no good. Surely reviewers can't be expected to say that every TV programme, book, film and song which is released is brilliant, just because "a person is trying to develop something". They're all trying to develop something!

Regarding the surname issue, I personally find it irritating when the media continually refer to Kate Middleton, Sarah Ferguson, etc. It doesn't happen so much with Sophie, for some reason. A lot of women still change their surnames on marriage. If someone chooses to do that, then people should respect it. No-one refers to Victoria Beckham as Victoria Adams, for example.

The point is, I guess, that using a title designation as a surname, as in Meghan Sussex, doesn't really make sense in a country where British titles of nobility are not legally recognized. Unless Harry somehow has taken up the legal name Harry Sussex in the US and Meghan then changed hers to Meghan Sussex too.

It is really complicated because US authorities, I imagine, have to go with the name that appears on Harry's British passport, which must be something like His Royal Highness Prince Henry Charles Albert David, Duke of Sussex. How exactly would that be translated into a US legal name in the standard American format?

What do I think would be the most sensible thing to do now that they are living in America? In my opinion, to use Mountbatten-Windsor as their family name, which was BTW their children's legal surname at birth. But, as Meghan made it quite clear, they are "Sussex" now.

 

[Maryrose]

Mods please move my question if it belongs somewhere else. Are all the children of the monarch born with the last name Mountbatten-Windsor and then their last name becomes whatever their title is like York or Walses? or is it always technically/legally Mountbatten-Windsor?

 

[Somebody]

Mods please move my question if it belongs somewhere else. Are all the children of the monarch born with the last name Mountbatten-Windsor and then their last name becomes whatever their title is like York or Walses? or is it always technically/legally Mountbatten-Windsor?

See the British title threads for discussions on this and other title related issues.

Moreover, several posts in this thread explained that nobody's last name is their peerage. It is only social usage. If descendants of queen Elizabeth II and Philip need a surname, they are to use 'Mountbatten-Windsor'; other male-line members of the royal family are just 'Windsor' (as they don't descent from Philip whose created 'Mountbatten' surname was included for his descendants).

 

[FigTree]

The reviews included in the thread are from noted and reputable publications like Forbes, Time, the Telegraph, Variety, and the Toronto Star. There are a handful of reviews from reputable pop culture sites like Mashable and The Wrap. IIRC, it was the pop culture site reviews that were the most favorable to her.

Very true. But reviewers don't do that. It must be devastating if you've spent years working towards getting a big part in a theatre show, and then the next day's papers all say that the show was let down by your bad singing/acting, or you spend years trying to get your first book published and then the reviewers all say that it's boring. But it's the way it goes.

Well you could say that every career has a regulatory body. Particularily, in the public service, assessments are available for all to see. Almost always feared, some of their spectre's is 100% worse than the reality. This is no different. But you literally always have advisors, reviewers, progress reports and all that that works around you to helpfully do the growth mindset part.

She isn't alone in being subjected to this. Most of us are.

Creatively, you are either well reviewed or you're not. You are either making product that people want to consume or you're not. This is a massive improvement on previous stuff and could grow more.

 

[iceflower]

To promote her show the Duchess of Sussex attended the Drew Barrymore Show:

The Drew Barrymore Show on Instagram: "@meghan on being a working mom & her new show, “With Love, Meghan.” Tune in Thursday (3/6) for more!"

27K likes, 2,995 comments - thedrewbarrymoreshow on March 5, 2025: "@meghan on being a working mom & her new show, “With Love, Meghan.” Tune in Thursday (3/6) for more!".

www.instagram.com

Meghan Markle Makes Rare TV Appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show: What She Revealed!

As 'With Love, Meghan' hits Netflix, Meghan Markle will appear on 'The Drew Barrymore Show' for a rare televised interview.

people.com

 

[winifred]

Having watched all episodes, I agree that the three with actual chefs are by far the best - Roy Choi, Chef Ramon and Alice Waters all had interesting information to impart. Netflix has put up all the recipes and I want to read those properly because my overwhelming impression in the moment was so much salt! even though Meghan says she undersalts.

And so many edible flowers but they are on the list of the first items for sale on As Ever, so product promotion alert.

The filming was stunning - what a glorious landscape to live in.

I didn't like the breaking the fourth wall interaction with the crew - especially the director, Michael, who, I'm sure is charming, but I didn't need to see so much of.

Alas, what really took me out of it was the finale, with Meghan's friends, Harry, and Doria at the celebration and Meghan says "Thank you for loving me so much". I'm probably just a buttoned-up, introverted Brit and this is a culture thing, but, oh cringe!

I think a second series is a definite possibility but we'll see. The reviews don't actually matter to Netflix I imagine; it's the views and subscriber s that will decide.

 

[shady lady]

...

Alas, what really took me out of it was the finale, with Meghan's friends, Harry, and Doria at the celebration and Meghan says "Thank you for loving me so much". I'm probably just a buttoned-up, introverted Brit and this is a culture thing, but, oh cringe!

I think a second series is a definite possibility but we'll see. The reviews don't actually matter to Netflix I imagine; it's the views and subscriber s that will decide.

Yep. That is truly cringeworthy. As a fellow Brit I can assure you my reaction would have been exactly the same had I watched it.

Perhaps it also hits the nail on the head about the purpose of the show. MM wants to be loved by everyone.

 

[AsEver]

I absolutely loved the show -- it was relaxing and interesting and fun! I loved this review.

Also glad that Meghan is embracing a family name and I can understand why it is important. And she isn't doing anything out of the ordinary -- Princess Eugenie went by Eugenie York during her time in NYC.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1897388635747704963

 

[Lori138]

Nothing like tooting your own horn!

 

[Hallo girl]

I absolutely loved the show -- it was relaxing and interesting and fun! I loved this review.

Also glad that Meghan is embracing a family name and I can understand why it is important. And she isn't doing anything out of the ordinary -- Princess Eugenie went by Eugenie York during her time in NYC.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1897388635747704963

It is well known by Royal watchers also well documented on this forum that using the title is common practice within the RF. There is nothing new in that practice, but I do think viewers were surprised that Meghan corrected her friend on the programme. I personally am not sure why it needed to be broadcast.
Markle would probably get more clicks on line right enough.
I wonder if they will just use the Sussex as the surname and chose not to use the title unless in more formal surroundings.
It was filmed last year so maybe they will have changed their mind by now.

 

[carlota]

I found the name correction strange. It sounded rather patronising towards her “friend”. Mindy looked rather taken aback by the comment by M. The fact that they kept it in the show and didn’t edit it out makes me think that M wants to prove a point about it. Possibly a reminder of the royal connection given that they can’t use duke/duchess of Sussex for business ventures?

 

[Somebody]

I found the name correction strange. It sounded rather patronising towards her “friend”. Mindy looked rather taken aback by the comment by M. The fact that they kept it in the show and didn’t edit it out makes me think that M wants to prove a point about it. Possibly a reminder of the royal connection given that they can’t use duke/duchess of Sussex for business ventures?

The cannot use 'HRH' but do use 'Duke/Duchess of Sussex', also in their business ventures.

 

[Curryong]

I just took it as a reminder from Meghan that she ceased being a Markle on her wedding day and hasn’t used it in any professional way since May 2018.

It appeared pretty obvious to me as well that Archie is using Archie Sussex at school as his surname, just as his father used to be Harry Wales. Meghan emphasised in that conversation that the children and parents use the same name. Lili is probably Lili Sussex at her kindergarten as well.

 

[Hallo girl]

I just took it as a reminder from Meghan that she ceased being a Markle on her wedding day and hasn’t used it in any professional way since May 2018.

It appeared pretty obvious to me as well that Archie is using Archie Sussex at school as his surname, just as his father used to be Harry Wales. Meghan emphasised in that conversation that the children and parents use the same name. Lili is probably Lili Sussex at her kindergarten as well.

As you yourself have said we can only speculate,

 

[shady lady]

As you yourself have said we can only speculate,

Didn’t they announce something like this back along? About changing their name? Or am I getting confused?

 

[Mbruno]

I absolutely loved the show -- it was relaxing and interesting and fun! I loved this review.

Also glad that Meghan is embracing a family name and I can understand why it is important. And she isn't doing anything out of the ordinary -- Princess Eugenie went by Eugenie York during her time in NYC.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1897388635747704963

Nobody questions that using titles as surnames is a common pratice (in fact the standard practice) in the United Kingdom. What some people have been questioning, including myself, is whether that practice makes sense though for someone who is a permanent resident of the United States, which is a country where foreign titles are not legally recognized.

Furthermore, there is always the issue of Meghan's double standard where, on one hand, she rejects royal life, but, on the other hand, wants to keep a royal connection when it suits her.

If Meghan had said "I'm Sussex now" to stress that she is using her husband's surname now, I suppose that no one would bother, but that is not how it comes across to the audience. It sounds like Meghan is pulling rank and reminding her friend of "who she is now", especially in the way she said that line.

Jaime Lee Curtis doesn't go around telling other Americans that she is "Lady Haden-Guest" now. Why does Meghan Markle feel it is so important to be called Meghan Sussex, especially when she is actually far more well-known as Meghan Markle anyway and that latter name is commercially more effective for her in the American media market?

 

[soapstar]

I read a substack that made an interesting point. They noted that it seems as if instead of being herself, Meghan is emulating the royal lifestyle. Tea parties, gardening, beekeeping and jam making are all things the BRF have long enjoyed (Catherine has spoken about making jam and honey for family and friends). Meghan by her own admission, has only started pursuing these hobbies very recently. Now that’s not to say Meghan can’t enjoy those things too, but it just doesn’t feel authentic. It feels like a completely different person from the woman we saw a few years ago. Even the packaging and the initial products she’s launching for her brand (tea, shortbread cookies and jam) feels like something you see in the BP and Highgrove gift shops.

I’ve said it before, but I think she should have revamped The Tig. On her old blog/instagram, she used to love showcasing new places and trying new foods. I think that type of content (travel/food) would have made a much better tv show than what she’s doing now.

A review from MSNBC
Opinion | The boring inauthenticity of Meghan's royally half-baked Netflix show

Which brings us to the biggest problem with this new show: None of it seems authentic, and none of it is especially compelling. It’s all just ... fine. (With the possible exception of a one-pan pasta recipe that I would definitely steal. But I also would have loved this idea even if I saw it on TikTok, which is where most Americans get their recipes these days anyway, right?) The questions I’m left with at the end of each episode — after Meghan cooks, crafts, opines and flips her hair in the California sunshine — is why? Why these recipes? Why this show? Why now? Why her? It seems to be that the only answer is because she married a prince.
———
The lesson here is that fame will get you a platform, no doubt. But a platform isn’t self-sustaining. To keep people coming back, you need something more. Meghan is not especially charismatic, not especially funny and not especially knowledgeable. She comes across as someone with more Instagram filters than common sense.

 

[Somebody]

It is well known by Royal watchers also well documented on this forum that using the title is common practice within the RF. There is nothing new in that practice, but I do think viewers were surprised that Meghan corrected her friend on the programme. I personally am not sure why it needed to be broadcast.
Markle would probably get more clicks on line right enough.
I wonder if they will just use the Sussex as the surname and chose not to use the title unless in more formal surroundings.
It was filmed last year so maybe they will have changed their mind by now.

(...)
If Meghan had said "I'm Sussex now" to stress that she is using her husband's surname now, I suppose that no one would bother, but that is not how it comes across to the audience. It sounds like Meghan is pulling rank and reminding her friend of "who she is now", especially in the way she said that line.

Jaime Lee Curtis doesn't go around telling other Americans that she is "Lady Haden-Guest" now. Why does Meghan Markle feel it is so important to be called Meghan Sussex, especially when she is actually far more well-known as Meghan Markle anyway and that latter name is commercially more effective for her in the American media market?

I've still never seen Meghan calling herself 'Meghan Sussex'. Can someone point me to a place where she did? As far as I can tell, she has not used 'Sussex' as her surname in public - but only 'Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex'.

 

[Royalist.in.NC]

I read a substack that made an interesting point. They noted that it seems as if instead of being herself, Meghan is emulating the royal lifestyle. Tea parties, gardening, beekeeping and jam making are all things the BRF have long enjoyed (Catherine has spoken about making jam and honey for family and friends). Meghan by her own admission, has only started pursuing these hobbies very recently. Now that’s not to say Meghan can’t enjoy those things too, but it just doesn’t feel authentic. It feels like a completely different person from the woman we saw a few years ago. Even the packaging and the initial products she’s launching for her brand (tea, shortbread cookies and jam) feels like something you see in the BP and Highgrove gift shops.

I’ve said it before, but I think she should have revamped The Tig. On her old blog/instagram, she used to love showcasing new places and trying new foods. I think that type of content (travel/food) would have made a much better tv show than what she’s doing now.

A review from MSNBC
Opinion | The boring inauthenticity of Meghan's royally half-baked Netflix show

I noticed that too, Soapstar. I’ve only watched the first episode with the bees and was surprised that she asked the beekeeper about the lifetime of a bee. And then she said they’d had the bees around one year (I think). So I thought it odd that she wouldn’t already know that. Had she known it and just wanted to share the info, she could have said something like “I was surprised when you told me that a bee lives only …..”

 

[Tatiana Maria]

I've still never seen Meghan calling herself 'Meghan Sussex'. Can someone point me to a place where she did? As far as I can tell, she has not used 'Sussex' as her surname in public - but only 'Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex'.

To be fair, it seems the duchess did not claim to have used "Meghan Sussex" in the conversation from the show, according to a transcript I found:


[Mindy Kaling:] “Uh, I don’t think anyone in the world knows that Meghan Markle has eaten Jack in the Box and loves it.”

[The Duchess of Sussex:] “It’s so funny, too, that you keep saying ‘Meghan Markle.’ You know I’m Sussex now.” [Pause.] “You have kids, and you go, ‘Now I share my name with my children.’ And that feels so — 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.’”

[Mindy Kaling:] “Well, now I know, and I love it.”

 

[Mbruno]

I've still never seen Meghan calling herself 'Meghan Sussex'. Can someone point me to a place where she did? As far as I can tell, she has not used 'Sussex' as her surname in public - but only 'Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex'.

The reference is to what happened in the show where a guest called her Meghan Markle and she corrected her by saying "I'm Sussex now".

You are right that she has been using "Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex" or "Meghan, Duchess of Sussex" in the US. It appears that Drew Barrymore (?) called her Meghan Sussex after the Netflix show aired (I didn't see it), but I wouldn't be surprised if we got more of Meghan Sussex in the future.

EDIT: In reply to Tatiana Maria's post above, she didn't call herself "Meghan Sussex", but clearly implied she sees "Sussex" as her family name, which she gets to share with her kids, which is odd again, because, when her kids were born, their family name on their birth certificates was Mountbatten-Windsor. They only became "Sussex" after they became princes upon Charles' accession. and, again, none of this has any legal meaning in the USA, unless she really changed her children's passports and other personal documents.

 

[tommy100]

I agree with the speculation that whole stilted conversation was left in as a warning shot to the RF not to strip them of their royal titles. By saying "its our family" Meghan is trying to make it even harder for the RF to strip them of the title (which I actually don't think the RF would ever try to do)

 

[Mbruno]

I agree with the speculation that whole stilted conversation was left in as a warning shot to the RF not to strip them of their royal titles. By saying "its our family" Meghan is trying to make it even harder for the RF to strip them of the title (which I actually don't think the RF would ever try to do)

Well, Joachim and Marie pulled that card too in Denmark ("why are you changing our children's name?") and even Nikolai went along with it (as in I've always been "of Denmark"). In the end, however, it didn't work and Queen Margrethe II made them "af Monpezat" anyway.

I understand how European royals in some countries in particular might feel about the generally unwritten rule that princes don't carry a family name and might use a title designation as a proxy for their surname, But I insist that Archie and Lilibet only became (HRH) Prince/Princess xxx of Sussex in the UK upon their grandfather's accession. Those titles do not exist in the United States and Queen Elizabeth II's declaration to the Privy Council on the name of her family and house, or King George V's Letters Patent of 1917 are not part of the law of California or of the United States.

I don't know what name they are using for the kids now, but, unless some legal action was taken, the natural thing would be to go with what is on their birth certificates, or probably on the passport Archie used to travel to America (I assume he has one), which must be Mountbatten-Windsor. They didn't cease to be Mountbatten-Windsor in America when Charles became King in the UK because, again, British rules do not apply in America.

Besides, the whole exchange was completely odd and out of place. Why did that conversation have to be in what should be a light-hearted Californian lifestyle/cooking show? Why did Meghan feel that she had to say that to an audience of potentially millions of viewers worldwide? Was she trying to make it clear that she doesn't want to be called Meghan Markle anymore, or that this is no longer who she is now? It is all puzzling to me.

 

[HRHHermione]

I will note that Meghan also echoed these comments in her promotional interview/cover story with People. For whatever reason, getting this point across was a major PR point reinforced in multiple channels.

 

[Somebody]

To be fair, it seems the duchess did not claim to have used "Meghan Sussex" in the conversation from the show, according to a transcript I found:

[Mindy Kaling:] “Uh, I don’t think anyone in the world knows that Meghan Markle has eaten Jack in the Box and loves it.”

[The Duchess of Sussex:] “It’s so funny, too, that you keep saying ‘Meghan Markle.’ You know I’m Sussex now.” [Pause.] “You have kids, and you go, ‘Now I share my name with my children.’ And that feels so — 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.’”

[Mindy Kaling:] “Well, now I know, and I love it.”

The reference is to what happened in the show where a guest called her Meghan Markle and she corrected her by saying "I'm Sussex now".

You are right that she has been using "Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex" or "Meghan, Duchess of Sussex" in the US. It appears that Drew Barrymore (?) called her Meghan Sussex after the Netflix show aired (I didn't see it), but I wouldn't be surprised if we got more of Meghan Sussex in the future.

EDIT: In reply to Tatiana Maria's post above, she didn't call herself "Meghan Sussex", but clearly implied she sees "Sussex" as her family name, which she gets to share with her kids, which is odd again, because, when her kids were born, their family name on their birth certificates was Mountbatten-Windsor. They only became "Sussex" after they became princes upon Charles' accession. and, again, none of this has any legal meaning in the USA, unless she really changed her children's passports and other personal documents.

Exactly, I've never suggested otherwise. I am fully aware that Meghan never called herself 'Meghan Sussex'; and while she might have implied it in this segment (which I read before) that Sussex is now her family name, she has never used it as such.

A few people in this thread seem to doubt that her surname is either 'Markle' (see Lilibet's birth certificate) or Mountbatten-Windsor (if she legally took her husband's surname) and seem to think of 'Sussex' as her surname. As far as I can tell she has never truly used it as a surname and it definitely is not her legal surname - but I am always open to new information, which is why I asked for the second time as more posters seemed to come up with this interpretation of 'Sussex' as Meghan's surname.

 

[Tatiana Maria]

Exactly, I've never suggested otherwise. I am fully aware that Meghan never called herself 'Meghan Sussex'; and while she might have implied it in this segment (which I read before) that Sussex is now her family name, she has never used it as such.

A few people in this thread seem to doubt that her surname is either 'Markle' (see Lilibet's birth certificate) or Mountbatten-Windsor (if she legally took her husband's surname) and seem to think of 'Sussex' as her surname. As far as I can tell she has never truly used it as a surname and it definitely is not her legal surname - but I am always open to new information, which is why I asked for the second time as more posters seemed to come up with this interpretation of 'Sussex' as Meghan's surname.

My apologies, Somebody, I did miss that your reply was directed towards previous posts rather than being a direct comment on the statement made in the show.
My own impression is that while the Duchess did indeed use the words "family name", she and those royal watchers who are in agreement with her comment are concentrated more on the wrongness of referring to her as "Meghan Markle", rather than on specifically labeling/using Sussex as a "name". It seems likely that she and those who agree with her comment would prefer that she be referred to as "the Duchess of Sussex" (as is her right under British tradition), even preferring that to "Meghan Sussex". However, saying "You know I'm the Duchess of Sussex now!" or "Now I share my title with my children" would surely not sound very appealing, so it is understandable that she used a softer phrasing.

 

[Asteria12]

Meghan can call herself whatever she likes, the reality is that she'll always bear the moniker "Meghan Markle" in the media because that is her tag. Just like "Kate Middleton."

 

[Royalist.in.NC]

My apologies, Somebody, I did miss that your reply was directed towards previous posts rather than being a direct comment on the statement made in the show.
My own impression is that while the Duchess did indeed use the words "family name", she and those royal watchers who are in agreement with her comment are concentrated more on the wrongness of referring to her as "Meghan Markle", rather than on specifically labeling/using Sussex as a "name". It seems likely that she and those who agree with her comment would prefer that she be referred to as "the Duchess of Sussex" (as is her right under British tradition), even preferring that to "Meghan Sussex". However, saying "You know I'm the Duchess of Sussex now!" or "Now I share my title with my children" would surely not sound very appealing, so it is understandable that she used a softer phrasing.

We just don’t have any titles in the US so it sounds pretentious to my ears for an American living in the US to call oneself the “Duchess” of anything. For a US citizen living overseas in countries where titles are used, that’s totally different and it makes perfect sense for Meghan to be called the Duchess of Sussex or even Meghan Sussex there. If they were just visiting, it would be different but they’ve stated they plan to live here in the US.
Harry was born with a title and has always been known as Prince Harry and I’m assuming he’s still a British citizen. While their children legally have those titles and they are meaningful in the UK, I cannot imagine them wanting to use them among friends - kids want to be like their peers, not stand out due to a title that’s not recognized in the US. We have no formal aristocracy - princes and princesses exist only in Disney movies and fairy tales.

 

[EllieCat]

Meghan can call herself whatever she likes, the reality is that she'll always bear the moniker "Meghan Markle" in the media because that is her tag. Just like "Kate Middleton."

Diana, Princess of Wales, was still being called 'Lady Di' for years and years after her marriage.