If Meghan’s Not Really a Markle Anymore, What’s Her Surname?

Who cares? Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are now struggling for relevancy! That’s the common thread one finds on British Royal forums these days. It’s the word on the street from those who have been following Prince Harry and Meghan since before the much-publicized “Megxit.” Yet, some are still curious as to whether Meghan actually kept her last name following her marriage to Prince Harry on May 19, 2018.

The answer, to be blunt is that “No,” Meghan Markle didn’t keep her last name. In fact, she gave up the Markle last name (at least in Great Britain) in exchange for a royal title. You see, senior members of the British Royal family, those who work as part of The Firm for Buckingham Palace don’t use surnames at all. Instead, they are known by their title and their common name.

For example, Harry might have been known as “Harry Mountbatten-Windsor,” but instead his legal name is “His Royal Highness Henry Charles Albert David Duke of Sussex.” In the same way, now that Meghan Markle is married to His Royal Highness, her name has changed to “Rachel Meghan Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex.”

For many Americans, this is all just a bit too weird and fans of Meghan the actress still call her Meghan Markle. No one really thinks about her new, official, royal title. If the truth is told, both Meghan Markle and Prince Harry aren’t very comfortable with the use of royal titles either. In fact, their discomfort has been seen on multiple occasions as Harry has asked to simply be introduced as “Harry” at various charitable functions and Meghan has done the same.

These are just little indications that Harry and Meghan desire to essentially leave all trappings of royal life behind them. For example, everyone knows by now that Harry and Meghan conspired to quit The Firm and begin a new life far from Great Britain in a bid to gain financial (and likely personal) independence from Buckingham Palace and the talons of her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

Harry and Meghan’s move to free themselves of Royal control saw them remove themselves first to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor and then to Vancouver Island, in Canada. Finally, Harry and Meghan made their way back to the Los Angeles area where they took up residence in Meghan’s friend, Tyler Perry’s house until they can make arrangements for their own new home.

When it comes to their new home, according to reports, Meghan and Harry have no plans to live off of any monies from the British Crown. The cost of any home they happen to purchase in the United States (such as one of the houses they’ve been looking at in Malibu) would strictly come out of Harry and Meghan’s private accounts.

It’s also likely that making the move to Los Angeles was a calculated move on Meghan and Harry’s part. After all, California is the home to Hollywood and acting is the profession Meghan knows best. It is therefore the most logical place for Meghan and Harry to begin refilling their personal coffers.

The bottom line, for now, is that when Meghan goes back to acting (and it’s likely she will) she’ll be billed once again as Meghan Markle … and not as “Rachel Meghan Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex.”

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