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04 Mar, 2025
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Meghan Markle reveals her REAL thoughts about the Sussex name she was given by the late Queen - and why she still uses it
@Source: dailymail.co.uk
Meghan Markle has said her title of the Duchess of Sussex is 'meaningful' despite having only ever visited the English county once. Meghan, 43, is launching her new lifestyle show tomorrow called With Love, Meghan on Netflix. The late Queen Elizabeth II bestowed the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Harry and Meghan for their wedding in 2018. Since then the pair have only visited the county once when they hosted a number of engagements seven years ago. Five years ago Harry and Meghan took a step away from their royal duties and moved to California, leading to calls for their titles to be stripped. Meghan dropped her surname when she married Prince Harry, but as a member of the Royal Family, she now does not officially have one. Royals conventionally use their titles in place of their surnames, meaning Meghan's name is officially Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Their children Archie and Lilibet were granted Prince and Princess titles following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Now living away from Royal life, Meghan has confirmed that the family have incorporated their title as a surname. Speaking to People Magazine, Meghan said: 'It's our shared name as a family, and I guess I hadn’t recognised how meaningful that would be to me until we had children. 'I love that that is something that Archie, Lili, H and I all have together. It means a lot to me.' She added that the 'Sussex' name was part of her and Prince Harry's 'love story'. Prince William and Princess Kate did the same thing for their children and George, Charlotte and Louis all used the surname Cambridge when they started school - their titles before the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Both brothers Harry and William used the surname Wales during their time at school, the Army and the RAF, the title held by Charles and Diana at the time. Meghan's new Netflix show launches tomorrow and the 43-year-old royal said the eight-part series had helped her to 'find herself' again. But despite her huge 2million-strong following on social media, she insisted she instead saw as a 'female founder' and 'entrepreneur' rather than an influencer. Meghan has also added to anticipation of the show by sharing an Instagram clip in which she describes friend Serena as one of her family's 'aunties'. The duchess this weekend posted online a video showing her playing a personalised board game with Meghan and Harry's three-year-old daughter Lilibet. The eight-part series has been filmed inside an $8million (£5million) mansion on a sprawling estate just two miles from the Sussexes' Montecito home. It's aimed at showing a new side to the Duchess - with royal sources saying it could be the last roll of the dice to salvage her and Harry's lucrative $100million streaming deal. Since Harry and Meghan signed the mega deal in 2020, there has been one smash hit and three relative duds, sparking speculation Netflix might soon cut ties. The biographical 'Harry & Meghan' was the streaming service's biggest documentary debut, viewed in almost 29 million households in its first four days, and proved a global sensation. But Polo, a sports docuseries, Live to Lead - which focused on 'global justice activists' - and Heart of Invictus, about Harry's games for wounded soldiers, proved lacklustre additions that failed to set the streaming service's viewing figures ablaze. 'With Love, Meghan' will see the duchess trying to promote herself in a new way, following her dramatic tell-all to Oprah Winfrey in 2021, as a 'domestic goddess' baking cakes, arranging flowers and slipping into a beekeeper's suit to collect honey. In trailers, Meghan is seen cooking, baking, cocktail making, flower arranging and party planning using its kitchen's £15,000 cooker, £600 pans, £60 chopping boards and hosting friends across the property's stunning rooms, garden and orchards. However, in Los Angeles, sources have said the Sussexes' relationship with Netflix is on borrowed time, amid claims they have proven hard to work with. 'The word bandied around internally is "nightmare",' one insider told the Sunday Times, while another previously told MailOnline: 'This is make or break for Meghan.' Away from the screen, it emerged last week through trademark filings that the Duchess plans to sell biscuit and pancake mixes under her newly rebranded lifestyle company 'As Ever'. Meghan had announced on February 18 the renaming of her venture from previous title American Riviera Orchard, which she said had limited her to locally-produced goods. It was then revealed how a new application was made to the US Patent and Trademark Office on the same day, indicating a series of products she is looking to sell under the 'As Ever' brand. On the list were goods set to compete with major brands such as Betty Crocker and Dr Oetker, including 'mixes for bakery goods; cookie mixes; biscuit mixes; crepe mixes'. These come under international trademark class 30, a category for food products. The application was made by '2022 Trademarks LLC', a firm established by Meghan's representatives. The Duchess had unveiled her lifestyle brand as American Riviera Orchard last year, sending out 50 jars of jam to her friends as a soft launch. The 'American Riviera' is a nickname for Santa Barbara, where Meghan lives with husband Prince Harry and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. But US officials told Meghan geographical locations could not be patented and she therefore could not trademark the brand – prompting the switch to 'As Ever'. Meghan confirmed the change of name in a video posted to her Instagram on February 18, shared with her 2.2million followers on the social media platform. She also told how Netflix was not only the streaming platform for her forthcoming series due to go live on Tuesday, but also a partner in her business. Ahead of the release, the couple have also hired a new head of communications. The Duke and Duchess have replaced their Chief of Communications Ashley Hansen with Meredith Maines. Ms Maines is thought to be a huge fan of the royal couple and is due to start in the role from March 3. It's the latest in a long line of staff departures from the Sussexes' team, with at least 19 leaving since the couple married in 2018. In a statement, Ms Maines said: 'I'm honored to partner with Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to highlight the amazing work they are doing through Archewell, their broader business portfolio, and nonprofit work.' Ms Maines was most recently employed at Lightspeed Venture Partners and has previously held positions at Google, Hulu and American idol.
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