• Meghan Markle publicly corrects Mindy Kaling on her Netflix show, stating she prefers "Meghan Sussex."
• Markle emphasizes the emotional weight of sharing her surname with her children.
• This marks a notable shift in how she wants to be identified post-royal duties.
• Social media reactions vary, with both support and criticism for her correction of Kaling.

In the second episode of her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, Meghan Markle corrected guest Mindy Kaling, reinforcing her preference for the surname "Sussex" rather than "Markle." During the episode, which aired recently, Kaling referred to her as "Meghan Markle" multiple times, prompting Meghan to respond, “It’s so funny too, that you keep saying ‘Meghan Markle.’ You know I’m Sussex now?” This moment underscores her desire to publicly embrace her new identity following her marriage to Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex.

The Duchess of Sussex acknowledged the importance of her surname, highlighting that, “You have kids and you go, ‘No, I share my name with my children.’ I didn’t know how meaningful it would be to me. But it just means so much to go, ‘This is our family name,’ our little family name.” Meghan's sentiments echo her previous comments made in an interview with HuffPost, which further emphasized her emotional connection to the Sussex name as an integral part of her family story.

As the couple transitioned to life in California after stepping back from their roles as senior royals, Meghan has expressed her fondness for the Sussex name. This is a departure from how she was often referred to in the media, and the correction to Kaling was noted by some on social media as a deliberate assertion of her new identity. Reactions have been mixed, with some expressing support for her assertion of identity while others labeled it as unnecessary elitism, according to India Times and The Hill.

Meghan’s determined effort to clarify her identity highlights a significant shift in how she wishes to be perceived moving forward, rejecting aspects of her past that she feels no longer represent her fully.