With the release of Netflix’s With Love, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex has emphasized that she now goes by a different surname.
In one episode, she chatted with The Office star Mindy Kaling about their favorite fast food.
“I don’t think anyone in the world knows that Meghan Markle has eaten Jack In The Box and loves it,” Mindy remarked.
Meghan responded: “It’s so funny you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know I’m Sussex now.
“You have kids and you go, ‘No, I share my name with my children.’
“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.’”
It’s a reminder that, despite their royal status, they are real people who want to maintain control over their identities.
Interestingly, many people didn’t even realize what the late Queen’s official surname was until her death certificate was made public.
The Surprising Details on the Queen’s Death Certificate
Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022, leading the nation into a period of mourning.
When her death certificate was released, it listed Aberdeenshire as the district of her passing, with the cause simply noted as ‘old age.’
However, one detail stood out to many—her full legal name, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor.
One social media user was stunned, writing: “Oh wow, I always thought officially the Queen didn’t have a last name. So weird to see it on a document like this.”
Another detail also caught people’s attention: her listed occupation. It read simply, “Her Majesty the Queen.”
One person joked, “If my occupation doesn’t have the word ‘Queen’ in it on my death cert I’ll haunt you all.”
Another laughed, saying, “The occupation is sending me.”
What Did the Queen’s Role Actually Involve?
For those curious about what being The Queen truly entailed, the Royal Family’s website offers insight.
“The Queen’s famous red boxes carried the State papers which Her Majesty was presented with every day of her working life.
“Her duties included formally agreeing to make bills into Acts of Parliament, or laws.
“She also had a special relationship with her Prime Ministers, meeting with them on a regular—usually weekly—basis. She was famously able to ‘encourage or warn’ whilst always remaining politically neutral.”
It’s a fascinating glimpse into the life and legacy of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.