Drew Barrymore Updates Meghan Markle's Name

What’s in a name? Just ask Meghan Markle.

In preparation for my upcoming chat on The Drew Barrymore Show, Drew herself decided to introduce me not just by the fashion persona I’m widely recognized for, but rather the elegant royal style I’ve embraced since marrying Prince Harry in 2018.

In a sneak peek of her March 6 episode on the program shared by People, Drew begins a quick-question round by announcing, “Here comes the Fast Five with Meghan Sussex.

In a scene from her Netflix series “With Love, Meghan,” Rachel Meghan Markle – who was actually born royal – subtly but clearly asserted her new title when she gently corrected Mindy Kaling for addressing her by her maiden name. During their conversation in the show’s second episode, she playfully reminded her friend that she is now known as “Sussex.

Meghan Markle, aged 43, shared that the chosen name held increased significance for her and Prince Harry (aged 40) as they became parents to their children Archie (age 5) and Lilibet (age 3).

In the episode aired on March 4th, she expressed, “Since I have children, I felt, ‘No, I want to pass my name onto them.’ However, I didn’t realize how significant it would become for me. But now, it carries such deep meaning when I say, ‘This is our family name, our small but mighty family name.’

Reminiscing back to over seven years ago, on the day of Harry and Meghan’s nuptials, I had the privilege of witnessing the late Queen Elizabeth II grant them the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Much like other esteemed members of the royal family, they chose to incorporate this title as their surname, and for Meghan, it holds a deeply personal significance.

In a chat with People on the 3rd of March, she clarified, “Our common surname as a family is significant to us.” It wasn’t until we had kids that I truly understood its importance.

The duchess remarked, ‘It’s special that we all, including Archie, Lili, H, and I, share this thing. It holds great significance for me.’

To learn more about the meaning behind the British royal family’s names, keep reading.

Queen Elizabeth II had the same first name as her mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (also known as the Queen Mother later on), while the rest of her full birth name – Elizabeth Alexandra Mary – was derived from her maternal and paternal grandmothers.

Additionally, her formal title was Queen Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, Queen of this Kingdom and of Her other Kingdoms and Territories, Leader of the Commonwealth, Protector of the Faith.

In traditional royal custom, every new family member’s name is endorsed by the current monarch. For instance, Princess Margaret, Elizabeth’s younger sister, was initially planned to be named Ann, but her father, King George V, didn’t favor this idea.

Born as Charles Philip Arthur George, this current monarch served as the longest-reigning heir apparent in British history before ascending the throne at the age of 73.

As a connoisseur of all things regal, I find myself bearing an esteemed and ancient name that traces its roots to the 17th century, much like the venerable lineage of our cherished royal family. However, my middle name, Philip, carries a more personal significance; it was chosen in honor of my beloved father, the Duke of Edinburgh, who has left an indelible mark on my life and the world at large.

At the age of 21 in 1958, Charles transitioned from being the Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay to assume the title of Prince of Wales, a position traditionally bestowed upon the eldest son of the ruling monarch.

In 1958, when he was 21 years old, Charles shifted his titles from Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay to become the Prince of Wales – a title usually granted to the eldest child of the reigning king or queen.

The name of the future monarch, William Arthur Philip Louis (born on June 21, 1982), is steeped in tradition. The name Philip acknowledges his grandfather, while Arthur is a name he shares with Prince Charles. Additionally, the name Louis was bestowed upon him and has been passed down to his two sons as well.

According to the 1992 book Diana: Her Story, it emerged that Princess Diana had, in fact, chosen her two sons’ names, as she overruled the choices made by her spouse, Prince Charles.

When asked about who picked Harry’s name, Diana responded by saying, “I was the one who selected both William and Harry, while Charles made the remaining choices.” Additionally, she disclosed that Charles had initially preferred the names Albert and Arthur, but Diana objected, stating they were too old-fashioned.

Following their marriage in 2011, William, alongside Catherine “Kate” Middleton, were titled as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Upon Queen Elizabeth II’s demise in 2022, and Charles assuming the throne, they were then referred to as the Prince and Princess of Wales.

By the way, they have swapped out Charles, and now Queen Camilla holds the titles of Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, and Countess and Earl of Chester.

Apart from their wedding day, they have also been granted the Scottish titles “Earl” and “Countess” of Strathearn. In Northern Ireland, they are recognized as “Baron” and “Baroness” Carrickfergus.

And that’s not all.

George Alexander Louis was born as the Prince George of Cambridge on July 22, 2013. However, after a change in title, he is now known as Prince George of Wales, reflecting the adjustment in his formal designation.

Louis appears to be named after Louis Mountbatten, the cherished uncle of Prince Philip and a guiding figure for future King Charles, who met his end in an IRA explosion in 1979.

The full name of William and Kate’s daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, is rich in tributes that honor many of her family members.

Charlotte, born on May 2nd, 2015, seems to be named with nods to several significant figures in her family. The name appears to honor her granddad Charles and coincides with the middle name of Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton, as well as her grandmother. Furthermore, Elizabeth is a tribute to her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, while Diana serves as another heartfelt homage, acknowledging William’s late mother.

After her parents ascended the positions of Prince and Princess of Wales, she transitioned from being known as Cambridge to being addressed as Princess Charlotte of Wales.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joyfully shared that they have called their newborn son Louis Arthur Charles following his birth on April 23, 2018. Shortly after, it was declared by Kensington Palace that he will be recognized as His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge.

Once again, he too is now Prince Louis of Wales.

Prince Henry of Wales, known as Harry, was born on September 15, 1984. Despite being given the title Prince Henry, his parents opted to call him Harry, a name that has remained with him ever since.

In 2018, when Harry wed California-born former actress Meghan Markle from Suits, they were titled as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

As a die-hard admirer, I can’t help but share the heartwarming tale of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Enthralled by its simplicity and charm, they chose the name Archie for their little prince, who graced us with his presence on May 6, 2019.

The decision left royal analysts puzzled, as historian Marlene Koenig had earlier stated to TopMob News, “This is a very unconventional name selection, but I’m not surprised because I predicted they would think outside the box. There are no Archies or Archibalds in the family. I’ve mentioned several times that parents of non-royals have more flexibility, more freedom.” (It should be noted that Princess Diana has an ancestor named Archibald Campbell, the 9th Earl of Argyll from Scotland.)

Harrison, however, literally means “son of Harry.”

Upon his arrival, his surname was Mountbatten-Windsor, created by combining Prince Philip’s adopted surname (Mountbatten) when he became a British citizen with Windsor, the family name of the queen’s male-line descendants who do not bear royal titles or styles.

As a scion of the royal lineage, I found myself stepping into the limelight when my great-grandmother, the queen, passed away and my grandfather ascended to the throne, becoming King Charles. Thus, I was born Prince Archie of Sussex, a title that carries with it a rich tapestry of history and tradition.

Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born to Meghan and Harry on June 4, 2021.

According to a family statement, Lili’s first name, Lilibet, is in tribute to her great-grandmother who holds the title Her Majesty The Queen, while her middle name, Diana, is a nod to her cherished late grandmother, Princess Diana.

Similar to her brother, she was titled as Princess Lilibet of Sussex upon the ascension of her grandfather, King Charles, to the throne.

Prince Andrew, the third offspring of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, assumed the title Duke of York upon his marriage to Sarah Ferguson (even after their divorce, they remain the Duke and Duchess of York). Their first child, Beatrice Elizabeth Mary, was born in 1988.

Beatrice, signifying “one who brings joy,” was the name given to Queen Victoria’s fifth daughter. This name was unexpected according to the predictions made by oddsmakers when naming the queen’s fifth grandchild. Elizabeth is a tribute to the queen, as her own grandmother was named Mary of Teck.

Born as the daughter of the current king’s son, Beatrice was bestowed with the title of Her Royal Highness and thus, she became a princess by birth.

As a devoted follower, I’d like to share that when the queen and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, tied the knot in 2020, he wasn’t bestowed with a title. Consequently, our beloved daughters Sienna and Athena bear the surname Mapelli Mozzi.

In a more modern rephrasing, we can say: Andrew and Sarah chose the names Eugenie Victoria Helena for their second child, as they decided to honor the Victorian era.

princess victoria Eugenie was the youngest child, being the ninth, of princess Beatrice, her mother.

In the year 2018, Eugenie got married to Jack Brooksbank. Unlike other grooms in such royal weddings, he was not bestowed an official title by the queen, leaving him as a mister. Their sons, August and Earnest, carry the Brooksbank surname instead.

2025-03-06 01:19

Drew Barrymore Updates Meghan Markle’s Name

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