"Disappointed"—Thomas reacts to Meghan Markle dropping her maiden name, says she "never had a problem until she met Prince Harry"

Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Markle, has also expressed his dissatisfaction with her taking on "Sussex" as her surname in place of "Markle." Speaking in an interview recently, Thomas said Meghan never complained about her maiden name before marriage to Prince Harry.

Her estranged father told the Daily Mail,

“My mum loved Meghan very much, but she would be so disappointed to hear that Meghan no longer wants to use the name Markle.”

His statements have reopened the debate on Meghan's changing identity as a member of the royal family. The decision has also attracted notice because Meghan still is commonly addressed as "Meghan Markle" in public life.

Although she has outlined why she is adopting the Sussex surname, her father's response indicates there are still strains within the family. This move provides yet another twist on the continued public fascination with Meghan and her family connection and her status within the royal tradition.

Thomas says Meghan Markle disassociating from her maiden surname is infuriating

Meghan's decision to drop the Markle name disappointed Thomas Markle, who claimed his mother, who was close with Meghan, would have been heartbroken. He claimed that Meghan felt she had made her decision around the time she married Prince Harry and that she had never before had any problems with the name.

This is another example of Meghan distancing herself from her American family and heritage after becoming a member of the British royal family, Thomas said. He implied that their tense relationship, which has been played out in public for years, continues as Meghan comes to identify as a Sussex and not a Markle.

Meghan discusses why she prefers to use the Sussex surname

Meghan addressed her decision to use "Sussex" as her last name in an episode of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan. During the show, she corrected actress Mindy Kaling, who referred to her as “Meghan Markle,” by responding,

“You know I’m Sussex now.”

She explained that the name holds personal significance, particularly because it aligns her identity with that of her husband, Prince Harry, and their children, Archie and Lilibet. By opting to use the Sussex surname, Meghan seems to be highlighting her relationship with her immediate family.

She has not publicly addressed her father's disappointment; but her words suggest that she views the name change as a sign of her current life and not a rejection of her past.

Meghan Markle's name change has been met with mixed responses from the public and media

Even though Meghan prefers the Sussex surname, the general public and the majority of the press still call her "Meghan Markle." This indicates that her maiden name is still highly associated with her public image, irrespective of her personal preference.

This has also occurred with other royals, such as Kate Middleton, who remains widely known by her maiden name despite technically being the Princess of Wales. Responses to Meghan Markle's choice have been mixed. Some feel it is an organic step for someone who has established a life with their spouse and children.

Others view it as part of an overall campaign to redefine her identity independent of her pre-royal life. The debate is indicative of the nuance of public figures balancing personal decisions while under the microscope.

Meghan Markle's choice of name is a matter of personal taste but remains contentious

Meghan Markle's choice to use the Sussex name has raised issues of identity, family connection, and royal precedent. While for her it's a symbolic act of joining up with her husband and children, for her father it's leaving behind her roots.

The name change also highlights the difficulty of changing public perception, as Meghan remains widely identified by her birth surname. As the debate rages on, it remains to be seen if public references to her name will evolve in time or if "Meghan Markle" will continue to be the most common identifier in media and popular culture.

Edited by Sangeeta Mathew

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