The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced back in January that they would be stepping down as senior members of the royal family. According to reports, they would no longer be senior working royals effective April 1 and when that time comes Markle has to use a new family name.
At present, Prince Harry and Markle use the surname Sussex. The royal couple started using it after they got married and when the Queen bestowed them the title. However, since they have already stepped down and would no longer be using their royal titles in any official capacity, Markle has to stop using Sussex as her family name.
According to Express, Markle can opt to use her maiden name, but she can also use Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s family name when she and Prince Harry embark on their new independent life.
Although royals use their title as their surnames, the male heirs of the monarch have been granted to use Mountbatten-Windsor when required. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex chose to give the family name to their son Archie after they declined to give him a royal title. Markle can decide to match her son and choose to be called Meghan Mountbatten-Windsor.
At present, Prince Harry and Markle are in Canada with their child. A few weeks back, the pair flew to the U.K. to carry out their final engagements as senior members of the royal family.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex even joined Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Commonwealth Day service. Previous reports claimed that the monarch wanted the royal princes to show a united front in their joint engagement but it did not happen.
The Cambridges were noticeably cold to the Sussexes. In fact, Prince William and Middleton were accused of snubbing Prince Harry and Markle because they barely acknowledged them. A body language expert said that Middleton had “zero acknowledgement” of her sister- and brother-in-law.