Meghan Markle confirmed that she’s changed her name in her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan.
The former actress, born Rachel Meghan Markle, has revealed she goes by a different moniker in her day-to-day life.
She shared the surprising news when chatting with actress and comedian Mindy Kaling for her lifestyle show.
The update has confused many fans, as they thought the former Suits star still went by Meghan Markle.
Reacting to Markle’s update, one person wrote: “Good Lord! She wants the name but doesn’t want anything to do with the family.”
Another questioned: “What happened with the quiet life she wanted to enjoy?”
“You walked away from the honor of having that gift of a name, and you can’t have it both ways,” fumed a third social media user.
Meanwhile, others have jumped to defend Markle following her name update.
One fan pointed out: “They hate you, but they can’t stop talking about you.”
“The hate for Meghan Markle is ridiculous,” agreed another. “You’ve no real reason to hate her.”
Markle and Prince Harry tied the knot in 2018, officially becoming the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
They welcomed their son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor, the next year, followed by their daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten Windsor, in 2021.
Prior to welcoming Lilibet in 2020, the couple shocked the world when they announced they were stepping down as senior royals.
Since Markle and Prince Harry have distanced themselves from royal duties, there have been calls for the couple to be stripped of their titles.
However, the couple has held onto their title, and now, Markle has made it clear it’s of special meaning to her.
In With Love, Meghan, Markle clapped back at Kaling when the actress called her by her former surname multiple times.
“It’s so funny too that you keep saying Meghan Markle,” the duchess said in episode two of the show. “You know I’m Sussex now.”
Markle explained that it became more significant after she had welcomed her two children.
“You have kids and you go, ‘No, I should share my name with my children,’” she continued. “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.’”
In a recent interview with People magazine, Markle elaborated on why she and Prince Harry wanted to keep Sussex as their last name.
“As the kids get older, they’re so excited about, ‘Oh my gosh, Mama and Papa, how did you meet?’” the duchess told the publication. “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.”
She added: “It means a lot to me.”