Meghan Markle is beginning a new chapter in the United Kingdom, but her return across the pond doesn't necessarily mean a return to royal formality.
The Duchess of Sussex recently relocated to Britain with Prince Harry and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, six years after the couple stepped back as working members of the royal family and established a new life in California.
© Sipa Usa/The Grosby GroupNow that Meghan is settling back into life in Harry's home country, one of her previous comments about her title has taken on new relevance. What does she actually want people to call her? The answer, according to Meghan herself, can be surprisingly simple.
During a July appearance on MasterChef Australia, Meghan was faced with the question directly when judge Poh Ling Yeow welcomed her to the kitchen and asked whether she should address her as "Duchess."
© Samir HusseinMeghan quickly put the formality aside. "Oh, call me Meghan. Absolutely, yeah," she replied. The casual exchange offered a glimpse at how the former Suits star prefers to be addressed in everyday settings, despite continuing to hold the Duchess of Sussex title.
Meghan and Harry became the Duke and Duchess of Sussex upon their marriage in 2018. Although they stepped away from their positions as working royals in 2020, they did not cease being the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
© Meghan Markle/IGTheir status has attracted renewed attention following their move back to Britain. King Charles III recently issued guidance reiterating that Harry and Meghan remain non-working members of the royal family and that their commercial and charitable activities are undertaken independently and in a private capacity.
The importance of "Sussex" to Meghan:
While Meghan may be perfectly happy with simply "Meghan" in conversation, she has also spoken about the significance the Sussex name holds within her family.
© Meghan Markle/InstagramThe duchess previously explained that "Sussex" functions as a family name for herself, Harry and their children. Speaking about the subject, Meghan said that Sussex "works as our family name" and emphasized that it is a name she shares with Archie and Lilibet.
© NetflixThat connection appears to be particularly meaningful to the mom of two. Meghan has previously described how having the same name as her children became increasingly important to her after becoming a parent, shifting the meaning of Sussex beyond its association with her royal title.
Her comments also help distinguish two things that are sometimes conflated. Meghan's preference for informality doesn't mean she has renounced her title. She can prefer to be called Meghan while remaining the Duchess of Sussex.
A new chapter back in Britain:
That distinction is especially timely as the Sussex family settles into its new routine in the U.K.
© Emmanuel Osodi/Anadolu via Getty ImagesMeghan was recently spotted at Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds during a low-key outing, marking one of her first reported sightings in Britain following the family's return from California.
The location is familiar territory for Meghan and Harry. The couple have longstanding ties to Soho House, and Harry has previously written about how much they enjoyed spending time in the Oxfordshire countryside during the early years of their relationship.
© Samir HusseinMeanwhile, Archie and Lilibet have begun a new school year in Britain as their parents focus on helping them adjust to their surroundings.
The family's return does not signal a return to life as working royals. Buckingham Palace has made that distinction clear. Instead, Harry and Meghan appear to be establishing a private family life in the country where their royal story began.
And as Meghan begins appearing around Britain once again, anyone wondering how to address the Duchess already has an answer straight from her, "Meghan" will do just fine.
