26-03-2025
What Does it Actually Mean to Be the Duchess of Sussex?
Despite being two of the most famous people in the world, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex still manage to confuse vast swaths of their fanbase. Sussex isn't exactly their surname, but, as Markle put it, it is a family name—kind of.
'You have kids and you go, 'No, I share my name with my children.,'" Markle recently told Mindy Kaling on an episode of With Love, Meghan. "And that feels so…I didn't know how meaningful it would be, but it just means so much to go, 'This is our family name, our little family name.'"
Being a Duchess, however, is about more than feeling connected to one's children. When Markle married into the British royal family on May 19, 2018, her new title brought it with a whole host of duties and responsibilities. Ahead, what it actually means to be a Duchess, and whether or not Markle and Harry kept the moniker after stepping down as senior royals in January 2020.
After tying the knot at St. George's Chapel on May 18, 2018, Meghan Markle became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton, and Baroness Kilkeel. Likewise, Queen Elizabeth bestowed three titles on Prince Harry: Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel. The titles are therefore not inherited but given by the British monarch.
In much the same way, Prince William and Kate Middleton became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge when they married back in 2011. Of course, they have since also become the Prince and Princess of Wales, following King Charles's ascension to the throne in 2023.
The titles of Duke and Duchess are the best one can do when marrying into the royal family, with one key exception: if you married, say, the heir to the throne, you would then become a Princess (exhibit A: Kate Middleton). Otherwise, the titles of Prince and Princess are exclusively inherited. Thus, Prince Harry will be a Prince forever, whereas Markle will likely never become a Princess. The proper way to address a Duchess (or a Duke) is "your grace."
It turns out the previous Duke of Sussex (who was around 175 years ago) had two marriages deemed "illegal" by King George III, and thus, there was no Duchess of Sussex. When Prince Harry was granted the title in 2018, Markle then became the first person to ever hold the title Duchess of Sussex. The title was essentially extinct until Harry and Markle married. It is not a surname, however; it is a noble title.
In simplest terms, a Duchess is the wife of a Duke. Markle had several responsibilities tied to her senior position in the royal family, including serving as the royal patron for several organizations: the National Theatre, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, Smart Works, and Mayhew. These patronages were removed when the couple stepped down in 2020.
"Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service," an official statement from the Palace read at the time. "The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by The Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family."
Though she is no longer Her Royal Highness, Markle retained the title of Duchess when she stepped down as a senior royal. Because the title was granted to her by Queen Elizabeth, removing it would actually require an Act of Parliament. That, or King Charles could order them to relinquish the titles. Both options are highly unlikely, however. In all likelihood, Harry and Meghan will remain the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for the rest of their lives. Archie and Lilibet, meanwhile, inherited the titles of Prince and Princess from their father, given that he is a son of the King.
Read the original article on InStyle
